Yerevan Voices, an all women choir, was established in 1994 by the conductor and musicologist Hasmik Vardanyan. The choir drew inspiration from its “predecessor” – Yerevan Chamber Choir, established in 1976 by the talented conductor Arthur Veranyan. Unfortunately, in 1992 after 15 years of brilliant endeavors, the choir dissolved due to Arthur Veranyan’s emigration to the United States. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that not only the members of the choir but also the Armenian musical heritage experienced a tremendous loss. Being the only women’s choir in Armenia, and in many ways the sole performer of invaluable repertoire, the choir was an idiosyncrasy with its unique significance. Hasmik Vardanyan, a leading soprano in Veranyan’s choir, along with the rest of the members, could not settle with the idea that this heritage was lost. For two years, they would gather unofficially and hold practices. Finally, in 1994 the members united in their decision to formally reestablish the choir, and by all means, preserve its unique musical heritage. The choir members unequivocally voted Hasmik Vardanyan as their new maestra. The position as the new conductor and artistic director was impelling for Hasmik Vardanyan. Having her educational background in musicology, Vardanyan went back to Yerevan Conservatory to study the art of conducting from renowned conductor Hovhannes Chekijyan. She presented the choir at her final exam with a performance that ended in standing ovations on the part of her teachers. But the choir had other challenges; Vardanyan inherited it at a time when the country was in shambles. Unlike the olden times, when the choir functioned under the aegis of Ministry of Education enjoying the sponsorship and almost unlimited funding from government, the post-Soviet cultural life was all about struggle. After the collapse of Soviets, Armenia was the most ravaged among all the republics. It was the epicenter of misery in many ways; the war, blockade, and earthquake plunged the country in darkness of electric outings, hunger and cold. In the midst of this despair, in times when people were getting 8.8 ounces daily ratio of bread, a group of women were gathering to sing in a room, where temperatures hovered close to freezing. They were singing to feel alive…They were singing their songs of catharsis. Despite the hardships, the music prevailed; The Yerevan Voices was revived. Vardanyan preserved the core traditions, repertoire, and performing techniques of her predecessor Arthur Veranyan. However, with her unique background in both, musicology and conducting, as well as her feminine spirit, she brought her own interpretation and schema to the choir. As many critiques have stated, she took the choir to another plane. Today the choir is a member of the biggest choral organization of the world – Europa Cantat. The Yerevan Voices has reached a distinct recognition both in motherland and abroad, the highlight of which being the 1997 International Music Festival in France, Briev, where it won the prize for the Best Performance. Since then, the choir has been in busy concert schedule, dazzling the listeners and keeping the women’s voices alive.