The Intersection of Trauma and Art

Conversations with Composer Mary Kouyoumdjian on Processing Emotionally Demanding Works

By Christa Akerele

At Creatives Care, we are committed to providing mental health resources to artists from diverse disciplines, including dance, instrumentation, composition, and visual and literary arts. Through our work, we’ve gained valuable insight into how emotionally demanding subjects can impact an artist’s mental well-being. To explore this intersection further, we spoke with Mary Kouyoumdjian, a renowned composer and 2024 Pulitzer finalist in music, whose body of work spans a wide range of topics, including—but not limited to—the Armenian Genocide.

Finding Her Path in Composition

Mary’s journey into composition began during her college years, when she found herself at a crossroads in choosing a major. Her love of storytelling, coupled with an interest in music and film, drew her to the idea of using music to support narrative, particularly in documentary contexts. Her Armenian heritage, and the history that drove her family to emigrate to the United States, became an emotional thread in some of her works. Over time, she developed a unique style that often incorporates interviews and field recordings, allowing her to compose powerful musical documentaries that resonate with diverse audiences.

Tackling Emotionally Complex Themes

Dealing with such emotionally heavy content, I asked Mary how she is able to process the emotions that arise when working on subjects so deeply connected to her heritage and personal identity. She shared her experience with a piece centered on the more recent 2023 Armenian genocide—a tragedy that is still fresh and raw for many within the Armenian diaspora. Mary emphasized that navigating this space is incredibly difficult, as the trauma is ongoing and deeply intertwined with both her professional work and personal life. "It’s not an easy space to be in," she explained, noting that while the subject matter is emotionally overwhelming, it’s also a necessary part of her creative journey and cultural responsibility. For her, creating these pieces is both a way of processing the pain and ensuring that the stories of those affected are heard. 

Mary feels a responsibility to inhabit this space. Many around the world remain unaware of the atrocities faced by Armenians, and she believes that her work plays a vital role in education and remembrance. Her goal is to connect with her audience on a deeply emotional level. By focusing on universal themes like love, loss, identity, and belonging, she creates an entry point for empathy. “No matter your background or where you live, we can all relate to these experiences as human beings,” she explained. Through this shared emotional connection, she hopes to engage listeners with the larger historical context surrounding the testimony, allowing them to better empathize with the tragedy.

Balancing Creativity and Mental Health
When it comes to managing her own well-being, Mary takes a strategic approach. She gathers her materials and sets dedicated blocks of time for intense work on her pieces, recognizing the psychological strength and vulnerability required to fully engage with interviews, field recordings, and other content. To maintain her mental health during these intense periods, she balances her creative work with daily exercise and breaks. Her two dogs, for example, provide a constant reminder to step away, get outside, and re-center herself.

After completing a composition, Mary makes it a priority to recharge. Whether it’s a weekend trip upstate, attending a concert, or simply spending time in nature, she ensures that she restores the energy spent on emotionally draining work. These moments of fun and relaxation help her create a sustainable balance, allowing her to return to her craft with renewed focus and a clear mind.

In the end, Mary’s process—both in composition and in self-care—reflects a deep understanding of the emotional demands of creating art about trauma. Her work not only preserves the memory of the Armenian Genocide but also offers a powerful reminder of the resilience required to transform pain into art.

In Mary Kouyoumdjian's "Bombs of Beirut," performed by the Kronos Quartet, Kouyoumdjian interviews family and friends about their experience living through the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) and integrates field recordings of bombings in a civilian neighborhood.