Toronto opera singer commemorates loved ones lost to pandemic through performance

For Gabrielian, 'Requiem' wasn't only a chance to heal and commemorate the fathers who gave him his voice, but to help those who lost loved ones to COVID-19 feel less alone.

Singing opera was the last thing on Vartan Gabrielian’s mind, growing up as an energetic Armenian kid in North York.

He was a rowdy one, his parents keeping him in church to keep him in line. But little did he know destiny would find him there.

“I was seven years old when I first met Father Meghrig Parikian,” Gabrielian told Global News one afternoon. Parikian was a new priest who joined the church and heard Vartan — an altar boy at the time — sing.

“I didn’t notice that he had noticed my voice,” said Gabrielian. “But all I knew is that one evening, he said, be here at this time and you’re going to work with a choral director.”

Father Parikian saw him as more than just a troublemaker, Gabrielian told Global News, and Parikian soon became his mentor. He believed in Vartan’s talent so much that Parikian convinced Vartan’s dad to put him in vocal lessons.

It wasn’t long before Gabrielian’s career took off.

After studying at a prestigious music school in Philadelphia, Curtis Institute of Music, on a full scholarship, Gabrielian made his professional debut in 2018 with opera company, Opéra de Montréal.

Later, he joined the Canadian Opera Company as an ensemble member where he would make his Toronto debut in Rusalka.