Emily Simonian

Early Life & Education

Emily Kay Simonian was born in Los Angeles, California, into a creative Armenian-American family where storytelling and music were woven into everyday life. Growing up on a steady diet of 90’s pop, The Beatles, Disney movies, and classic musicals, she developed an early passion for songwriting and performance.

Her formal musical education began with a merit scholarship to Berklee College of Music, one of the world’s most prestigious institutions for contemporary music. She later completed her B.F.A. in Contemporary Music at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, further honing her skills as a performer and songwriter.

In 2024, Emily returned to Berklee to complete additional online coursework in songwriting and basic music production, sharpening her abilities as a writer for other artists and expanding her technical fluency in the evolving landscape of music creation.

Musical Theatre & Composition

Emily’s most significant creative work to date is her original musical “When Two of Us Meet”, an Armenian-American musical inspired by her ancestors’ emigration to America in the early 20th century. The story follows a spirited family’s turbulent journey from Armenia to America, emphasizing their personal and cultural evolution through contemporary music.

The two-act musical has been hailed by early reviewers as “a Broadway-worthy stage production.” It was awarded the Laurel Karabian Fund for the Arts Grant from the Armenian International Women’s Association and received a concert reading in New York City at The Green Room 42 in Spring 2025.

The Armenian Embassy partnered with Emily to host a private concert presentation in Washington, D.C., with the Armenian Ambassador as the Guest of Honor. The musical was named a top 12 finalist for the 2025 Florida Festival of New Musicals and a top 10 finalist for the 2025 Colorado New Musical Project. It is also a 2026 Semi-finalist for the National Music Theater Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, with a staged presentation scheduled at PenArts theatre in Florida in July 2026.

Beyond “When Two of Us Meet,” Emily is developing additional musical theatre projects including “Mind Games” — a macabre pop-musical about a neuroscientist who snaps during a messy divorce — and “Cecilia”, which brings to life the legendary story of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, set in ancient Rome.

Pop Music & Recording

As a performer and recording artist, Emily has released two EPs and played shows nationwide. Her songwriting spans pop, indie pop, dance pop, and musical theatre. In addition to performing her own work, she is actively building a career writing for other artists and collaborative projects.

Her latest singles include “Inside Your Mind” — a haunting track that reclaims artistry with atmospheric production and emotional depth — and “Body Language” — an infectious dance-pop track showcasing her versatility as a recording artist.

Emily has an extensive original song catalog ready for artist placement, with selections available for listening on her official website and Spotify profile.

Mental Health & Published Work

Emily holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and integrates music and art into therapeutic practice. Her contributions to mental health conversations have been featured in prestigious outlets including TIME Magazine, The Washington Post, Newsweek, HuffPost, Healthline, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, and Women’s Health, where she frequently speaks on the intersection of music and mental health.

She is the author of “The Essential Family Therapy Workbook,” available at Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble, and other major retailers. Her forthcoming book, “The Essential Guidebook for Couples,” continues her mission of making therapeutic concepts accessible through creative expression.

Musical Inspirations

Emily’s musical influences span decades and genres. For “When Two of Us Meet,” she drew inspiration from the great composers of 90s Disney musicals — Alan Menken, Elton John, Tim Rice, and Stephen Schwartz — seeking that character-driven, catchy, and emotionally resonant vibe.

Her pop songwriting is influenced by artists like Sia, whose ability to craft super catchy pop songs with rhythmic variation and lyrical depth Emily deeply admires. She dreams of one day co-writing with Sia, citing her ability to marry lyrics and music as a constant source of inspiration.

Emily is also inspired by contemporary musical theatre innovators like Anaïs Mitchell (Hadestown), whose concept of “exploding the song” — expanding contained songs into dynamic theatrical moments — has deeply influenced Emily’s approach to musical storytelling.