Ukrainian lirico-coloratura soprano with Armenian roots through her father, was born in Bila Zerkva and grew up in Odessa.
She started her musical education at the age of five, studying piano at the famous Stoliarsky School. After finishing school she enrolled at the piano department of the Odessa State Musical Academy where she studied with the highly esteemed Professor Ludmila Ginzburg. The young pianist was offered post-graduate education scholarships in Western Europe, she decided, however, to enter a singing career.
Susanna started to study singing with the legendary opera singer Eugenia Miroshnichenko at the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine in Kiev.
Still being a student the young singer was invited for Juliette’s role in a new production of Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliette” at the National Opera of Ukraine in Kiev. Since then she has belonged to the ensemble as a preeminent soloist. In 2009 President Viktor Yushchenko awarded her the title “Honored Artist of Ukraine”.
During her 15 years of stage experience she has performed at all opera houses of Ukraine, in Tatarstanopera, Kazan, and has been on numerous opera tours to, among others, France, the Netherlands, Holland and Italy. Her operatic repertoire comprises besides Juliette, just to name a few, Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia Di Lammermoor, Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Leila in Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Pamina in Mozart’s Zauberflöte, Rosina in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Musetta in Puccini’s La Bohème.
In the recent season Susanna Chakhoian was heard at the National Opera of Ukraine as Gilda (Rigoletto), Oscar (UnBallo in Maschera), and Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) as well as in galas dedicated to Rossini and Mozart.
Participating in several international singing competitions she won prizes in Budapest, 2002 (Second Prize), at Belvedere Singing Competition in Vienna, 2004 (Audience Prize and Special Prize for the best stage personality), in Alcamo, Sicilia, 2008 (Second Prize and Best Verdi interpretation).
Besides opera, Susanna Chakhoian devotes an important part of her activity to giving solo recitals and performing chamber repertoire as well as Ukrainian folk music. She is a regular guest at the National Philharmonic. In concert the artist appeared in K. Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mahler’s 8th Symphony, Haydn’s Die Schӧpfung, Vier Letzte Lieder by R. Strauss, to name a few.
In 2015 she had the honour to perform the soprano part in the internationally broadcasted Mozart Requiem on occasion of the Maidan Memorial and to appear as prime singer in the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide Concert.
Over the years she has established herself as a guest star in numerous radio and TV productions.
Beyond singing the artist is passing on her professional experience to a growing number of students.
