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
2015–2018
Bachelor of Music, Performance of Persian Music
University of Tehran, College of Fine Arts Tehran, IraN
2011–2015
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
