Karen Keyhani
Date of Birth
23 June 1979, in Tehran (Iran)
Nationality
Iranian
Contact
FORMAL EDUCATION
University of Art, Tehran
M.A. in Composition 2006 – 2009
Thesis: “Requiem for Symphonic Orchestra”
Distinctions: Best Composition Thesis of the year (The ministry of Science, Research & Technology, Tehran, Iran); Distinguished Alumnus for the Year 2009 (University of Arts, Tehran)
B.A. in Traditional Music of Iran 2001 – 2005
Thesis: “Rondo for Symphonic Orchestra”
Distinctions: Distinguished Alumnus for the Year 2005 (Arts & Architecture Azad University, Tehran)
GRANTS – AWARDS
– Winner of the Barbad Music Award for the best contemporary classical composer of the year (for “Garden of Leaflessness” released by Mahoor Institute of culture and Arts, Summer 2017), 33rd Fajr Music Festival, January 2018
– Candidate of the Barbad Music Award for the best contemporary music album (for “Only That Spark and Nothing More” released by Arqanun Records, 2014), 31st Fajr Music Festival, February 2016
– Finalist of the 5th USAIHCC (USA International Harp Composition Competition), one of the six finalists out of 116 submissions, January 2016
– Winner of the 30th SCI (society of composers) CD series competition, October 2015
– Candidate of the best Iranian contemporary music album of the year for “Only That Spark and Nothing More”, Our Music Celebration, Tehran, October 2015
– Winner of Black House Collective composers competition(Kansas, U.S.A), April 2014
– Project development Grant, Service cantonal de la culture(Republique et canton de Geneve), September 2013 – January 2014
– Artist in Residence Grant, Embassy of Foreign Artists, Geneva, September 2013 – January 2014
– Best Composition Thesis Award, University of Art, Tehran, October 2010
– Special mentioned composer, Risuonanze Festival, Italy, April 2013
SELECTED TEACHING AND ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
– Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
web seminar: “Persian Dastgah Music Elements in My Compositions”, December 2020
– University of Art, Tehran – Department of Composition
Notation in 20th Century – First semester of 2020-2021 Academic Year
– University of Arts, Tehran – Department of Performance
Notation in 20th Century – First semester of 2015-2016 Academic Year
– Tehran Music School for Girls
Member of Jury in Entrance Exams , Tehran, 2014 – 2015
– University of Arts, Tehran – Department of Composition
Composition based on Persian traditional music elements, First semester of 2014-2015 Academic Year
– 14th GMTH Congress, HEM(Geneva University of Music), Geneva
Keynote Speaker; “Three Approaches on Persian Classical Music Theory”, October 2014
– University of Arts, Tehran – Department of Composition
Orchestration in Contemporary Music, Winter 2014 – Present
– HEM(Geneva University of Music), Geneva – Department of Ethnomusicology
Lecturer – “Dastgah System in Persian Traditional Music”, Autumn 2013
– HEM(Geneva University of Music), Geneva – Department of Ethnomusicology
Lecturer – “Persian Regional Music”, Autumn 2013
– Tehran Music School for Girls, Tehran
Music History, 2012 – Present
– University of Arts, Tehran – Department of Composition
Analysis and Composition, 2011 – Present
– ISI University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (During YCMF 2010)
Lecturer – “Modal Structure in Persian Traditional Music”, 2010
– University of Applied Science and Technology, Tehran (Department of Music)
Analysis, Music History – Member of Jury in Entrance Exams (2010 – 2011), 2008 – 2012
Ghasedak Music Institute, Tehran
Founder and Santur Instructor, 2006 – Present
COMPOSITION
(SELECTED COMPOSITIONS)
Rondo, for orchestra – Requiem, for orchestra – Kist?, for traditional vocalist and orchestra – Santur Concerto, for santur and string orchestra – I’m The Spring and You’re The Earth, for piano, flute, oboe, cello, horn- It’s Raining, for 10 to 14 Performers – As Far As Possible, for santour and ensemble (12 instruments),Ten Variations, for string quartet – . . . and His Cuff was damp with Tears . . .,for string quartet – To Her Beautiful Eyes, for string quartet – Homayoun, for Persian string quartet (kamancheh I&II, alto gheichak, bass gheichak) – Insomnia, for flute, oboe, cello – Alone, for flute trio – Night Raven, for horn, bassoon, marimba – Persian Dance, for trombone, horn, cello, tombak – Breeze of the Morning, for tenor, piano and violoncello – Good Morning, for clarinet, cello – The Last Color, for flute, piano, Ghavaal, for piano, cello – Thou Knowest, for mezzo-soprano and piano – The Last Drop of Sound, for violin and violoncello – Hejrani, for flute and piano – Only That Spark and Nothing More, for solo oboe – Nightly Monologue II, for solo harp – Nightly Monologue III, for solo trombone – Hejrani II, for solo flute – Baang, for solo bassoon – Bubbles No.1 for solo cello – Nahim for piano, Zagros for oud, flute, violin, trumpet, and percussion – Bubbles No.4 for solo clarinet – Snow man, for solo flute – Sonata No.2, for piano – Paeiz, for solo santur – True Morning, for santur, setar, oud, kamancheh, quichak, damam, traditional vocalist, narrator, piano, cello and electronics.
PERFORMANCES (SELECTED LISTING)
– Zagros, for oud, flutes, double bell trumpet, percussion and violin , Ensemble MusikFabrik , Cologne, Germany, January 2022
– Nightly Monologue III, for solo trombone, Music in Museum project of Duisburg Philharmonic , Duisburg , Germany, May 2020
– Bubbles, for solo cello, Martina Rudic: cello, Rondo concert season, Milan, Italy, March 2018
– Hejrani, for flute and piano, Tommaso Bisiak: flutes, Reana de Luca: piano, Risuonanze Festival, Trieste, Italy, June 2017
– Garden of Leaflessness, for solo harp, Bridget Kibbey, MATA festival, New York, NY, USA, March 2017
– As Far As Possible, for santour and ensemble, Divertimento Ensemble; Sandro Gorli: Conductor, Venice Biennial, Venice, Italy, October 2016
– Hejrani II, for solo flute, Juliet Brunet-Jaily, Art Gellery of the University of Tehran, July 2016
– Tho Knowest, for for mezzo-soprano and piano , Akiko Kozato: mezzo soprano, Adele D’Aronzo: piano, Risuonanze Festival, Udine, Italy, May 2016
– Nightly Monologue I, for solo oboe, Catherine Pluygers, i’klectik art-lab, London, January 2016
– Nightly Monologue III, for solo trombone, Risuonanze festival, Udine, Geneva, June 2015
– Hejrani , for piano and flute, Ensemble MATKA, Foundation L’ABRI, Geneva, February 2015
– Hejrani , for piano and flute, Elodie Virot: flute, Layla Ramezan: piano, Kresge Hall , Pittsburg , U.S.A, February 2015
– Thorough The Rainy Road , for Solo piano, Layla Ramezan, Roudaki Hall, Tehran, Iran, December 2104
– String Quartet No.2, YCMF festival 2014, Post Graduate Indonesian Institute of Art Concert Hall, November 2104
– In the Midst of Bubble, performance in collaboration with Bahareh Raeesi (Painter), Etemad Gallery, Tehran, October 2014
– Nightly Monologue II for solo harp, Marta Marinelli, Risuonanze festival, Udine, Italy, June 2014
– The Night Raven, for horn, bassoon and marimba, Maroon Trio, Black House Collective,Kansas, May 2014
– As Far As Possible, for Santur and ensemble, Matka ensemble, Elena Schwarz coductor, Usine Kugler,Geneva, November 2103
– Only That Spark and Nothing More, for oboe, Catherine Pluygers, London New Win Festival, London, September 2013
– The Last Color, for flute and piano, Retrospective concert , Rudaki concert Hall, Tehran, May 2013
– Requiem, Transcription for piano for hands, Hooshyar Khayam & Karen Salajegheh, Vahdat Hall, Tehran, May 2013
– To Her Beautiful Eyes, for string quartet, Scheherazade Quartet, Rudaki concert Hall, Tehran, May 2013
– and His Cuff was Damp with Tears, for Persian string quartet, Chargan Quartet, Rudaki concert Hall, Tehran, May 2013
– Felfel Nabin Che Rize, Musical Theater for Children, directed by: Alireza Jafarimaram, Niavaran Hall, Tehran, December 2012
– Homayoun, for Persian string quartet and percussion, Chahargan Quartet, Rudaki concert Hall, Tehran, October 2012
– His Name Is Man, for Piano four hands, Marya Octavia Rosiana & Ross Cary, FCMF festival, Yogyakarta, Java, October 2010
– String Quartet No.2, Talalyan string quartet, Komitas Hall, Yerevan, June 2010
– Alone, for flute trio, Yogyakarta Contemporary Music Festival, Java, Indonesia, October 2009
– White, for Piano, Kaveh Salehi, Tehran University of Arts, Tehran, March 2008
– Silence, for flute, Shaghayegh Sadeghian, Nahaleh Roudaki, Tehran, April 2007
MUSIC FOR MOVIE AND THEATER
– Banafshezar
Short film by Abtin Salimi Tari, 2019
– A River Passed Through My Seasons
Short film by Abtin Salimi Tari, 2015
– Felfel Nabin Che Rize! (musical theater for children)
written and conducted by Alireza Jafari Maram, 2012
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AS A SANTUR PLAYER (SELECTED LISTING)
– Santour soloist in “as Far as Possible” for Santour and ensemble(by: Karen Keyhani), Divertimento Ensemble; Sandro Gorli: Conductor, Venice Biennial of Contemporary Music, Venice, Italy, October 2016
– Santur soloist in “Iranian Music Between Past and Present” concert in collaboration with Mehraein Ensemble of traditional music, Venice Biennial, Venice, Italy, October 2016
– Santur soloist in “as Far as Possible” for Santour and ensemble(by: Karen Keyhani), Matka ensemble, Geneva, November 2013
– Solo improvisation, Usine Kugler, Geneva, November 2013
– Santur player in “Pardis” musical project in collaboration with Tehran Chamber Orchestra, Hamid Motebasem; composer, Bardia Kiaras; conductor, August 2013
– Santur meister, traditional orchestra of ministry of colture, Jalil Andalibi; conductor, Tehran, January 2004 – January 2005
– Santur player, traditional music ensemble, Jalil Andalibi; conductor, Tehran, 2002 – 2003
– Founder, conductor and santur player, Mehraein traditional music ensemble, Tehran, January 1999– Present
PUBLICATIONS (SCORES)
– “On The Wet Road“ for solo piano
Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, Tehran, 2018
– “The Last Drop of Sound“ for violin and cello
Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, Tehran, 2018
– “The Last Color“ for flute & piano
Part Publication, Tehran, 2014
– “Only That Spark and Nothing More“ for solo oboe
Part Publication, Tehran, 2013
DISCOGRAPHY
– “The Waste Land” (various artists) including Karen Keyhani’s Thus Idle Land for oud and bassoon (Elise Jacoberger: bassoon, Yasamin Shahhosseini: oud), Telesk Records, Tehran, 2020
– “Dialogue (various artists)” selected works for violin and cello including Karen Keyhani’s The Last Drop of Sound, Nivak Ensemble, Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, Tehran, 2019
– “Garden of Leaflessness” (selected chamber music by Karen Keyhani), Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, Tehran, 2017
– “Modes” (various artists), The 30th edition of the celebrated Society of Composers, Inc. CD Series, Navona Records, U.S.A, August 2016
– “Only That Spark and Nothing More”, Selected Works for Ensemble (2010-2012), Arqanoon Records, Tehran, May 2014
– “Possible Worlds II (various artists)”, “And His Cuff was Damped With Tears”( for Persian String, Quartet),
Spectropol Records, Washington, January 2013
– “Verses of the Night (Hooshyar Khayam)”, “His Name is Man”( for Piano four hands),
Contemporart Music Records, Tehran, January 2011
– “Sunset at Early Morning “, In memorial of Aidin Nikkhah Bahrami, Puya Jalali; Producer, Tehran, January 2008
LANGUAGES
Persian: Native Language
English: Fluent
MEMBERSHIPS
SCI (Society of Composers), USA
Cimbalom World Association (CWA)
Iran Music House (Permanent Member)