Shiraz Ensemble with special guest Parsa Ferdowsi:

Shiraz Ensemble are:

Nooshin Nowrouzi: kamancheh, tombak

Sepehr Pirasteh: alto kamancheh, tombak

Sina Homaee: santoor, tombak, daf

For this performance they will be joined by:

Parsa Ferdowsi: setar, tanbour

Shiraz Ensemble is a contemporary music group that unites Iranian musicians performing traditional instruments in the United States. Built on the values of curiosity, innovation, open dialogue, and experimentation, Shiraz Ensemble is dedicated to creating new music and collaborating closely with composers, performers, and interdisciplinary artists. Our mission is to deconstruct and reconstruct the rich traditions of Iranian classical music, transforming them into new forms through contemporary composition techniques. We also aim to collaborate with artists from diverse cultures to create unique cross-cultural musical experiences, explore new artistic territories, and build bridges through music and art. We strive to blend innovation and tradition, pushing the boundaries of Iranian music while honoring its cultural heritage.

Based in Philadelphia, Shiraz Ensemble has performed at venues such as the Asian Arts Initiative, University Lutheran, The Perch, Market Street Music in Delaware, Philadelphia Porchfest, Paintridge Station, and Philly Typewriter. We have collaborated with various artists and ensembles, including Mahya Hamedi, Violalia Duo, and Hodge-Podge Band, fostering a creative exchange that highlights the versatility and vibrancy of Iranian music in a modern context.Shiraz Ensemble embodies a global perspective, merging our roles as world citizens and passionate artists to highlight crucial socio-political issues through art. Drawing inspiration from our journeys as immigrants from Iran to the United States, we channel our experiences into a transformative musical narrative. Founded in 2023 in Philadelphia, Shiraz Ensemble takes its name from the ancient city of Shiraz in Iran, the birthplace and upbringing of its founders, Sina Homaee and Sepehr Pirasteh.

Parsa Ferdowsi is an Iranian composer/performer/multi-instrumentalist and multi-media artist. His creative purview includes performance art, poetry, text-image, sound design, video art, improvisation, Iranian music, community building, and archiving. His compositions challenge the pre-defined roles and definitions of music making and concert performance through interdisciplinary approaches, collaborative environments and playing around with collective memory and perception of continuity. As an improviser he implements some of his compositional techniques and issues around decision making along side the language and affordances of Iranian Dastaghi music. He worked with artists and ensembles such as Peter Zummo, David Vantieghem, Alex Waterman (as a part of the Arthur Russell’s City Park project led by Nick Hallet), David Behrman, Nicolas Collins, Nat Baldwin, Shawn O’Sullivan, Lea Bertucci, Mat Wellins, Pamplemousse Ensemble and String Noise Duo.
He is currently studying Experimental Music/Performance in the graduate program at Wesleyan University. He holds a BA in Composition from Tehran University of Art and has years of experience studying santur and Radif of Iranian Dastgahi music with Majid Kiani.

venue is wheelchair accessible

Contact the host of Shiraz Ensemble with special guest Parsa Ferdowsi