Name: Marine Torosyan
Place of Birth: Vanadzor
Date of Birth: 10 October 1973
Favorite Band or Singer: Armen-Chik
Favorite Song: “It’s late” by Armen-Chik
Favorite Song from Paros Chamber Choir Repertoire: Nabucco
Personal Goal: To be healthy and happy.
Personal Statement including hobbies, interests, family, etc.: My hobby is embroidery. I want to meet interesting people and to travel around the world.

Our family consists of eight people: My mother, five sisters, a brother and I. My father passed away in 1987. I now have five nephews and have fun with all my family outside in the open air.

In 1988, I was studying in my ninth year. I was in school during my regular classes when the earthquake took place. The school building was completely destroyed. I remained under the ruins and was only rescued hours later, unconscious, and in grave condition. I was hanging somewhere upside down, blackened and unrecognizable. The rescuers who where trying to find survivors, first thought that I was a dead teacher and did not help me. Only my mother was able to recognize me by my shoes. Then I was taken to the hospital. Several days later the doctors figured out that my spinal cord was injured. I was operated on, but...
Then I was moved to Kiev, Ukraine, where I was supposed to continue my medical treatment. However, in Kiev my condition became worse, and the Ukrainian doctors recommended that I go back to Armenia, saying that I would only live a week or so. I stayed at the hospital for a year and then I was moved to Washington, DC.

During these months, my grandmother took care of me while my mother was looking after my sister Arevik who was 13. She was found a day after the earthquake, unconscious and bloody. As a result of the earthquake, her hand was injured. The doctors amputated her hand explaining that they did not have enough time to treat the injury. My other sisters were luckier and were not injured and my brother was serving in the army at the time.

In Washington, DC, I was operated on once again. The operation lasted 13 hours. After this, my condition stabilized, the pain was released and I returned to Armenia. My home was completely destroyed, and we had to settle in a provisional dorm. Today, we are living in an unfinished building and the apartment lacks any facilities.

In 1993, I was accepted in the professional rehabilitation department of the IPTRC in Yerevan as a student. I was taught the basics of business and obtained a business diploma. I also learned tapestry and embroidery. I have obtained the corresponding diplomas and have authored numerous works. Since the day Paros Chamber Choir was established 1992, I have been singing with the choir. I have participated in nearly all the public performances of the choir, including the oversees concerts in Lebanon (1997), Georgia (1998), Great Britain (2000), and France (2005). All the countries I have visited are beautiful, however, I love my homeland Armenia most of all.

I an unemployed and I am not married.