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Time in Yerevan: 11:07,   29 March 2024

Mary-Jean O'Doherty joins Genealogy from Australian continent

Mary-Jean O'Doherty joins Genealogy from Australian continent

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. The name of the fifth member of Genealogy band representing Armenia in Eurovision international song contest has been announced. The Public Relations Department of Armenia’s Public TV informed “Armenpress” that the fifth member of the band is Mary-Jean O'Doherty Basmadjian, who will represent the Australian continent.

Mary-Jean Anaïs is an international coloratura soprano of Armenian ancestry who has Australian, US and Greek/EU Citizenship. She has performed in many opera houses and concert halls in Australia, the UK and Europe. Her operatic roles include: The Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte), Lucia (Lucia di Lam­mer­moor), Konstanze (Die Entführung aus dem Serail) and Zerbinetta (Ari­adne auf Naxos).

O'Doherty was born in Houston, Texas, and educated at North Carolina School of the Arts and East Carolina University from which she received her Bachelor of Music degree in voice and flute performance as well as Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 2005. She won the ABC Symphony Australia Young Vocalist Award in 2007 and the following year was the first recipient of the Australian International Opera Award which included a scholarship to study at the Cardiff International Academy of Voice under the direction of Dennis O'Neill. Shortly after completing her post-graduate diploma there in 2010, she sang the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor at the Prague State Opera and reprised the role with the company the following season. In November 2011, she made her Royal Albert Hall debut as a concert artist performing in Raymond Gubbay's Classical Spectacular.

The fourth member of the band is Stephanie Topalian, a Japanese-Armenian singer, who will represent the Asian continent.

Stephanie Topalian, professionally known as Stephanie, is a Japanese American singer, songwriter and actress of mixed Japanese and Armenian descent. She was born to a Japanese mother and an Armenian father in Los Angeles, California. Although Stephanie is residing in Japan she has a strong commitment to her Armenian background and is very attached to her grandparents. Starting singing at the young age of 13, Stephanie sent an audio demo tape of her singing to various music productions, and received a response from a Japanese music producer Joe Rinoie. Rinoie was impressed with her singing, and at the age of 19 Stephanie made her major debut in Japan from SME Records (Sony). She achieved the “Best New Artist Award” at the prestigious 49th “Japan Record Awards” in 2007 and afterwards released two albums.

Stephanie Topalian – her magical voice and wide vocal diapason has already touched thousands of hearts in Japan. Stephanie is a singer, songwriter and an actress currently residing in Tokyo. Gifted with major artistic talents, she could sense from the start that music was the dream she wanted to pursue in the future. While starting off with her professional singing career Stephanie is a graduate of Aoyama Gakuin UniversityLaw School. Stephanie was born to a Japanese mother, and an Armenian father, in Los Angeles, California. Although Stephanie is residing in Japan she has a strong commitment to her Armenian background and is very attached to her grandparents. She heard many stories about the Armenian Genocide – a historical event that changed so many destinies; including her grandparents’. Those stories lead to the enhancement of her consciousness on the issue and despite being far from homeland Stephanie is true to her Armenian roots and is a keen learner of the culture and history. Her Armenian grandparents Jean Pierre Topalian, and Koharik Mikaelian Topalian relocated to the United States from Lebanon, choosing final destination and place of dwell the state of Wisconsin. Starting singing at the young age of 13, Stephanie sent an audio demo tape of her singing to various Japanese music productions, and received a response from a Japanese music producer Joe Rinoie. Rinoie was impressed with her singing, and at the age of 19, Stephanie made her major debut in Japan from SME Records (Sony). She achieved the “Best New Artist Award” at the prestigious 49th “Japan Record Awards” in 2007, and afterwards released two albums.

Stephanie's songs were widely featured in the Japanese “Anime” scene. Her 1st and 2nd single, "Kimiga Iru Kagiri" and "Because of you" consecutively became the ending themes of the Anime “Kiss Dum”. Her 5th single "Changin", was also featured as the last ending theme of the Anime “D.Gray-man”. In early 2008, her single "Friends" became the second ending theme for the Anime TV series “Gundam 00”. The song fell into the top 10 of Japanese Oricon charts. As an actress Stephanie debuted in the film Pride in 2009, based on Yukari Ichijo's shōjo comic. She portrayed the protagonist Shio Asami, and also took part in the film's theme song, "Pride ~A Part of Me~ feat. SRM". Aside from “Pride”, Stephanie also starred in “Tokyo Tribe” (2014) and a short film, “It's All Good” (2009) which was fully scripted in English. Inspired by avariety of genres and artists Stephanie favors Michael Jackson and Queen British rock band. She really enjoys both Armenian and Japanese foodand likes long walks.

The third member of the band is Vahe Tilbian, popular Ethiopian-Armenian singer, who will represent the African continent.

Vahe is known for his style – from rock to techno, reggae to R&B, Armenian to Ethiopian and a lot of Latin music.

The name of the second participant of Genealogy band, representing Armenian in Eurovision 2015 international song contest, was announced on February 20. Tamar Kaprelian represents the American continent.

“Excited (and absolutely honored) to announce..... I'll be participating in this year’s Eurovision!!!” Tamar Kaprelian stated this on her Facebook page.

Tamar Kaprelian is an Armenian American musician and singer. She is best known for her single "New Day" and for winning the OneRepublic "Apologize" Cover Contest in March 2008. She was selected to be part of Genealogy, a collective Armenian international music band to represent Armenia in 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna with the song "Don't Deny".

Wax Ltd produced her song "New Day," which went on to be her first single, and her first album Sinner or a Saint on Interscope records was released August 24, 2010. During 2010, she performed Dev's part of "Like a G6" with The Far East Movement at selected live performances. Her first EP, California, was released on June 19, 2012.

Previously it was reported that the first member of the group is French-Armenian singer Yesayi Altunyan from Europe. Yesayi Altunyan has captured the hearts of all Europeans with his charming voice. He is also a songwriter, a pianist and an actor. For Yesayi, music is a way of uniting people and their hearts, a universal language and a call for peace that fills people’s hearts and souls with happiness.

The France-based and highly popular singer has many Armenian fans and has written songs for several renowned French performers. Yesayi was visiting Armenia to present his new song “Je n’oubile pas” (I Won’t Forget), which is dedicated to the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide committed a century ago.




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