Padideh Ahrarnejad


musician – Tar player, arranger, composer, teacher

Specialist in Persian music performance; plays Tar (a plucked-string instrument central to Persian music).

Tar Performance – long-term engagements

  • New Canadian Global Music Orchestra (Toronto) – 2016-present
    The NCGMO is a resident ensemble at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, made up of elite performers from different global musical traditions. Membership was selected through highly competitive auditions.
  • Iran National Music Orchestra (Tehran) – 1998-2016
    A regularly rehearsing and performing orchestra, the INMO gives frequent concerts, tours, and accompanies live performance. Performance was from memory, from scores, and through structured improvisation.
  • Radio and Television Orchestra (Tehran) – 1998-2016
    I played tar as a regular member of this recording ensemble, and wrote arrangements and compositions that were featured in radio and television programs.

 

Performance experience


  • over 40 concerts at major concert halls in Iran (Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz) with the Iran National Music Orchestra
  • tours with the INMO to Armenia, Austria, Canada, China, Germany, Norway, Kuwait, and Uzbekistan
Other select performances (Canada)
  • “Concert for Peace,” Ottawa – 13 Strings and Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto.Featured soloist, Tar.
  • Aga Khan Museum, Toronto – solo tar performance
  • “Avaye Andalib,” Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts – ensemble performance.
  • Sarv Music Academy, North York – performance with the Barg Ensemble.
  • Small World Music Centre, Toronto – performance with the Barg Ensemble.
  • Upcoming 2017 concerts with NCGMO; as soloist with the ICOT at the Toronto Centre for the arts; in a trio with (Maziar Heidari, piano; Pedram Khavarzamini, tombak); and the quintet Iranian Modal Music Ensemble
Other select performances (Iran / International)
  • Simin Sepehr Association, Tehran – performed at a charity concert to support children with cancer.
  • Mehrnava, Tehran – performed at charity concert to support children in need. August 24-25,2013.
  • Rumi Festival, Oslo, Norway – performed with and arranged for the Navaye Del Ensemble (Iran) at the closing concert of the festival in November 2011 and 2012.
  • Vahdat Hall, Tehran – performed with the Khakavak Group. July 29, 2011.
  • Vancouver, Canada – performed with the Parishad Group (Iran). March 2011.
  • Vahdat Hall, Tehran – performed with Ensemble Simorg. March 2011.

Education


Bachelor’s Degree, Music (specialization in tar performance)

Art University, Tehran. February 1997 – September 2001. Training in Persian music and in Western European Classical music.

High School Diploma, Music (specialization in tar performance)

Technical High School, Tehran

Teaching Experience


  • Private teaching in Tar, Toronto – 2016-present
  • Teaching faculty at Azadeh Music Institute, Tehran, 1998-2016
  • Private teaching in Tar, Tehran, 1998-2016
  • Instruction in tar, Technical High School, Tehran, 1995-1996
  • I have given workshops in the history and theory of Iranian instruments to elementary school students

Languages


Fluent in Farsi and English

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