Mezzo-soprano SHOGHIG KOUSHAKJIAN has appeared as Larina in Eugene Onegin, Giovanna and Maddalena in Rigoletto, Third Lady in The Magic Flute, Madrigal Singer in Manon Lescaut, Annina in La traviata, Unulfo in Rodelinda, Gertrude in Hansel and Gretel, and the title role in Carmen. She has appeared with companies including Opera Pacific and the Music Academy of the West. Additionally, Koushakjian has appeared as Amneris in Aida, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Isabella in L'Italiana in Algeri, and as Augusta in Ballad of Baby Doe. She appeared in Dikran Tchoudhadjian's 1874 comic opera Zvart, produced by Ardavazt Theater company and the Lark Musical Society at the Pasadena Civic Center in 2003.

An active concert and recital soloist, Koushakjian has sung Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder, Bach's St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion, and Handel's Messiah, as well as the Christmas Oratorio by Saint-Saëns. Among her most recent engagements are the Stabat Mater by Pergolesi, a recital in Canada, and Luis Bacalov's Misa Tango with the Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony under the direction of John Alexander. A graduate of the University of California at Irvine, Koushakjian earned a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Fine Arts. She has studied voice with Nina Hinson, Stephan Grimm, and Lisa Stedham and worked with distinguished coaches including Armen Guzelimian, Ann Baltz, and Kelly Kuo. Koushakjian has taken master instruction with John Harbison, Marilyn Horne, Warren Jones, John DeMain, and Martin Katz.