Episode 8 | Mehrnoosh Zolfaghari
‘’Global club nights’’ is a networking and informative club series in collaboration with Caisa Cultural centre, Helsinki Open waves web radio and the Global music Department of Sibelius Academy, that aims to bring together all parties involved with music. With live music, seminars and workshops the events attempt to create bridges between musicians, event producers, agents, venues, and music lovers, bringing down barriers and creating a safe and creative environment of free expression. In a celebration of diversity, using the tools of intercultural collaboration and specialized knowledge, we provide the possibility of a neutral and safe space for sharing and exchange of knowledge, information, wishes and insights on the music industry in Finland, both on the part of the musician and from the business side while most importantly, sharing it with the community.
In this episode we are very honoured to host the one and only Mehrnoosh Zolfaghari:
Mehrnoosh Zolfaghari is a highly accomplished musician, composer, and santoor player based in Finland. With over 20 years of experience playing the traditional Persian dulcimer, she has established herself as a respected figure in the world of music. Currently, she is pursuing her second master’s degree in the Global Music department at Sibelius Academy in Finland, with a focus on promoting Iranian music and its unique cultural heritage to a wider audience around the globe. She is deeply passionate about blending traditional sounds with contemporary influences, creating a unique sound that is both authentic and innovative.
Mehrnoosh received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music performance from the University of Tehran, College of Fine Arts, where she was recognized as the class valedictorian. Her early musical education and concentration were on Persian traditional music, but in recent years, she has also explored modern contemporary music, leading to numerous projects and compositions that merge electronic sounds into santoor.
Throughout her career, Mehrnoosh has collaborated with many outstanding professors, including Joachim Heintz, Sergio Castrillón, Adriano Adewale, and Bijan Kamkar. She has also won numerous prestigious national and international awards in both contemporary and traditional music, including the Gilgamesh International Composition Competition in the USA, Reza Korourian’s Composition Competition, and the first round of the Aref National Award in Iran. Furthermore, Mehrnoosh has compiled an extensive list of publications, including albums, singles, and books during her musical journey.
Mehrnoosh’s expertise and passion have led her to work on several exciting projects, including collaborations with other musicians, transcultural approaches to arranging music, and blending traditional Persian sounds with contemporary electronic music. She strives to be a true ambassador for Persian music, dedicating herself to creating and sharing innovative compositions that showcase the beauty and depth of this rich musical tradition with audiences around the world.
Currently, she is an active composer and performer, collaborating with the musicians of their band “Zemiene quartet” on transcultural approaches to arranging music. Together, they are also set to release an EP in 2023.
Credits
Producers & Hosts: Chico Matada & Vasileios Katopodis
Guest: Mehrnoosh Zolfaghari
Sound recording, editing & live streaming: Bailey Polkinghorne
*The audio piece was recorded and edited at the Helsinki Open Waves performance & recording room located at Caisa.
**The views expressed in this audio piece and texts are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the view of Helsinki Open Waves.
***If you have any feedback regarding the content of the podcast, please contact us via helsinkiopenwaves@gmail.com