Biography

Mehrnoosh Zolfaghari

Mehrnoosh Zolfaghari is a professional musician, Composer,Santoor player and performer based in Finland. Although she is a multi-instrumentalist, her principal instrument is Santoor, a traditional Persian Dulcimer capable of playing numerous folk modes and “Dastgâhs” which she has been playing for over 20 years and has been teaching for more than 10 years in top music institutes in Tehran.

Her artistic aim is to make Iranian music known around the world. Mehrnoosh enjoys blending traditional sounds with contemporary influences. In addition, she is interested in global music and has worked on several projects.

Mehrnoosh earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music performance from University of Tehran, College of Fine Arts, Iran as class valedictorian. For years, her concentration used to be on Persian traditional music. However, during the past few years, modern contemporary music has also become one of her main areas of interest, leading to several projects and compositions merging electronic sounds into Santoor.

Besides collaboration with several outstanding professors, including Joachim Heintz and Bijan Kamkar, I have been honored to win numerous prestigious national and international awards both in contemporary and traditional music, such as Gilgamesh International Composition Competition in the USA, Reza Korourian’s Composition Competition and the first round of Aref National Award in Iran. Moreover, I have compiled an extended list of publications, including albums, singles and books during my musical journey.

Awards

  • Gilgamesh International Composition Competition

Won the first place for composing the single “Mortal” for an ensemble and fixedmedia2022

  • Electroacoustic Music Composition Competition

Reza Korourian Awards 2021 Selected as distinguished composer for composing the single “3, 2, 1” for double bass and fixed
media

OCTOBER 2021

  • Goethe Institut Virtual Partner Residencies Worldwide

Awarded grant for collaboration in the contemporary single “Memori” composed by Joachim
Heintz .

SEPTEMBER 2021

  • The First Round Of Aref National Award

Earned well-deserved praise in the composition section for composing the single “You’re Back Again”

QAZVIN, IRAN

MARCH 2021

  • Master’s Degree

University of Tehran, College of Fine Arts
Entrance without the nation-wide university entrance examination
Awarded full scholarship
Ranked among the top 2% students

TEHRAN, IRAN

2015-2018

  • Bachelor’s Degree

University of Tehran, College of Fine Arts
Ranked among the top 1% participants in the nation-wide university entrance examination
Awarded full scholarship
Ranked the 1st student

TEHRAN, IRAN

2011-2015

  • Avaye Mehr Music Festival

Awarded the second place as Santoor player

TEHRAN, IRAN

JUNE 2008

  • High School

Tehran Music School

Ranked among the top 5% students in the six years of high school and middle school, Tehran Music
School, Tehran, Iran

2003-2009

  • Education

Master of Global Music                                                        

Sibelius Academy  

Helsinki, Finland

Present    

                                                                                                     

Master of Music, Performance of Persian Music                             

University of Tehran, College of Fine Arts  

 Tehran, Iran

20152018

Bachelor of Music, Performance of Persian Music                         

University of Tehran, College of Fine Arts                                                                    Tehran, IraN 

20112015

High school Dipolma, Performance of Persian ClassicAL Music      

Tehran Music School for Girls

Tehran, Iran

2003-2009

  • Publications

Zolfaghari, M. (2021). The Role of Hammers in the Emergence of Santoor Playing Styles, Farahang Music Students Quarterly, 2(6), 60-75

  • Concerts

Nomads Festival                                                                                 

Kino Club and Kulttuuriyhdistämö Interkult                                                        

Santoor player in Global Multidisciplinary Impro Ensemble

Helsinki, Finland

September 2022

Kurdish Music Band “Hehvayar”                                                 

Entezar Hall   

Santoor and Daf player, Singer: Bijan Kamkar   

Kermanshah, Iran                                                                                                 

December 2018

Opera perfromance of a French Musicians Band                             

Embassy of Belgium  

Santoor player, in cooperation with Thomas Tacquet

Tehran,Iran                                                                                                                 

April 2018

Iran’s culture and Art Festival                                               

Invited by Embassy of Iran in Thailand      

Santoor player

 Bangkok, Thailand

September 2017

Sonata Philharmonic orchestra                                                                 

Hilal Ahmar Hall  

Santoor player, composed by Mohammad Reza Darvishi         

sari, iran                                                                                                                 

january 2017

Kurdish Women Band “Vian” 

Niavaran Cultural Centre 

Santoor player

 Tehran, Iran

 August 2016

“Mowj-e No” Music Orchestra    

Vahdat and Roudaki Halls     

Santoor player, Composer: Ali Ghamsari, Led by Dr. Pouya Saraei                

  Tehran, Iran

 January 2016

Iranian Organization and International Associations              

Education and Research Department of the Foreign Ministry    

Administrator and Santoor player

 Tehran, Iran

December 2015

commemoration of the late professor “Faramarz Payvar”        

Arasbaran Cultural entre 

Santoor player

Tehran, Iran                                                                                                      September 2015

Concertino for Santoor and Orchestra                                            

Shahid Avini Hall, University of Tehran   

Santoor soloist, in cooperation with National Orchestra of Tehran University, composed by Hossein Dehlavi, Led by Dr. Mehrdad Pakbaz

Tehran, Iran

January 2014

Pro bono charity concert  

Rezai Psychiatric Hospital

Santoor player     

TEHRAN, IRAN

June 2013

Percussion Band “Naerika” 

Vahdat, Roudaki and Arasbaran Hall, Milad Tower

Daf and Percussions player      

Tehran, Iran

2009-2014

  • ALBUMS

THE ALBUM “AZ SAMÂ TÂ HOZUR”

Composer and Santoor player, to be published by Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts

2021

BOOK AND ALBUM “22 CHAHAR MEZRAB PIECES”

Collected, arranged, and notated 22 traditional folk pieces for Santoor, composed for Tar (2019-2020), to be published by Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts

2021

THE ALBUM “PERSIAN FESTIVITY”
Santoor player, compositions by children and young adults, published by Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts

2020


THE ALBUM “MAHPISHUNI”
Santoor player, compositions by children and young adults, published by Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts

2020


THE ALBUM “REBELLION”

Santoor player, composed by Midya Farajnejad, published by ASD Records

TO BE RELEASED


THE SINGLE “ROARING WAVES”

Composer and Santoor player, published and released by Sheed Records, the United States

2019


THE ALBUM AND BOOK “HAMNAVÂZ”
Santoor player, 18 pieces for ensemble playing of ney and Persian classical instruments, notated and ney performance by Siâmak Jahângiri, published by Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts

2018


THE ALBUM “WATERESQUE”
Hang player, in cooperation with Siâmak Jahângiri, Clarinet player, published by Ahvalat-eshakhsi Collection (Kherad Art house)

2018


THE ALBUM “QUATRAIN OF LOVE”
Santoor player, composed by Mazda Ansari

TO BE RELEASED


THE ALBUM “PHONEMES REQUIEM”
Choir, composed by Ehsan Saboohi

2016

  • EXPERIENCE

SANTOOR
Alef Cultural and Artistic Institute
Instructor

2020-PRESENT


SANTOOR, HANDPAN (HANG)
Ark (Risheh Dar Khak) School of Music
Instructor

2016-2020


SANTOOR, HANDPAN (HANG), EAR TRAINING, SIGHT SINGING, MUSIC THEORY

Rhythm of Peace Academy, Rangahang Music School
Instructor

2010-2015


THE SINGLE “AWAKENING”
Composed and played a contemporary fusion composition for Santoor and Hang

2022


THE MOVIE “LA MINOR”
Santoor and Hang player, as well as actress in the movie “La Minor” (2019), directed by Dariush Mehrjui, film score by Christophe Rezai

2022


THE SINGLE “RAY OF LOVE”
Santoor player, composed by Mazda Ansari, published and released by Zang Records, the United States

2020


ADVERTISING COMPOSITION
Composition for advertising a short movie, ordered by “The RedLine Team”

2020


ADVERTISING COMPOSITION
Santoor player, composition for advertising a short movie, ordered by “Make Sew Happy”

2020

THE SINGLE “DOUBTLESS”
Collaborative composer and Santoor player of a contemporary fusion

2019


GOLOZAR BAND
Bandleader and Santoor player

2019


THE SINGLE “THE LAST MEETING”
Bandleader and collaborative composition of a contemporary fusion for Hang, Tar and Bass Guitar

2019


SIRANG BAND
Bandleader and Santoor player

2018


THE SINGLE “THE FANCY WINGS”
Bandleader and collaborative composition of a contemporary fusion for Hang and Setar

2018


HELIA BANDEH ACADEMY’S TECHNICAL WORKSHOP ON THE ORIGINAL AND
CLASSICAL IRANIAN DANCE

Santoor player

2018


YOUTHS NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
Referee, in collaboration with “Honar-e-Novin” Cultural-Artistic Institute

2018

  • MASTERCLASSES

COMPOSITION MASTERCLASS BY PROFESSOR JOACHIM HEINTZ
Yarava Music Group
Participation

TEHRAN, IRAN

SEPTEMBER, 2021


HANG MASTERCLASS
Ark (Risheh Dar Khak) School of Music
Instruction

TEHRAN, IRAN

JULY, 2019


TURKISH MUSIC WORKSHOP
Atölye Meşkler
Participation and collaboration

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

JUNE 2019


SANTOOR WORKSHOP
Beseiktas Muzik Institute
Instruction

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

JUNE 2019


MUSICAL IMPROVISATION MASTERCLASS BY DIMITRI PAPAGEORGIOU

University of Tehran
Participation

TEHRAN, IRAN

OCTOBER, 2018


MUSICAL IMPROVISATION MASTERCLASS BY OLRIKE BRAND
University of Tehran
Participation

TEHRAN, IRAN

OCTOBER, 2018


FILM SCORING WORKSHOP BY SASSAN MOHEBBI
Rangahang Music School
Participation

TEHRAN, IRAN

DECEMBER, 2017


ELECTRONIC MUSIC WORKSHOP BY PROFESSOR JOACHIM HEINTZ

University of Tehran
Participation

TEHRAN, IRAN

NOVEMBER, 2017


CREATIVITY IN PERSIAN MUSIC SEMINAR BY HOSSEIN ALIZADEH
University of Tehran
Participation

TEHRAN, IRAN

MAY, 2016

  • SKILLS

INSTRUMENTS
Santoor (Advanced, Fluent in Persian Radif: Mirza Abdollah and Faramarz Payvar)
Hang (Advanced)
Daf, Tombak, Cajon


COMPOSING
Persian Classical, Contemporary World Fusion, Film Scoring


SOFTWARE
Cubase, Logic, Max (Certified by Udemy), Sibelius, Microsoft Word

LANGUAGES

Persian, English

  • AREAS OF INTERSET

Composition, Improvisation, Persian Classical Music, World Music, Contemporary World Fusion,
Ethnomusicology, Film Scoring, Teaching


February 16, 2019
Iran