UCLA IRANIAN MUSIC CONFERENCE SERIES

Voices in Shadow:

THE ARTISTIC JOURNEY OF IRANIAN FEMALE SINGERS AFTER THE REVOLUTION

Dr. Shahab Paranj, Maliheh Moradi, Sahar Mohammadi Boroujerdi, Mahbobeh Golzari

UCLA - Herb Alpert School of Music - Lani Hall

445 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA 90095

or watch via Livestream

Following the 1979 revolution, Iranian female singers have been banned from performing as solo artists. With public performances under interdiction, many prominent female artists had to halt their careers at the height of their artistic mastery. A prominent case of this was Parisa, the virtuoso female singer who was recognized internationally as a generational talent, and who was prevented from performing publicly after 1979.

This panel discussion will explore the artistic and societal challenges faced by Iranian female singers. It will also delve into the technical aspects of Iranian classical singing. Discussions will focus on vocal techniques, interpretative methods, and the preservation of traditional vocal practices, highlighting how restrictions affected the passing down of knowledge, training, and performance. Iranian singers Maliheh Moradi, Sahar Mohammadi Boroujerdi, and Mahbobeh Golzari will share both personal experiences and technical insights. They will reflect on the challenges of preserving their craft while offering demonstrations of essential Persian singing techniques. Through a balance of historical context, personal narratives, and technical analysis, Voices in Shadow seeks to foster a deeper understanding of both the artistic excellence and cultural barriers Iranian female singers have navigated, and to encourage dialogue and a broader appreciation of their contributions. This panel discussion will be moderated by Shahab Paranj.

About Shahab Paranj

Winner of the 2024 Hoefer Prize, Composer, Conductor, Instrumentalist, and Educator Dr. Shahab Paranj, an Iranian-born composer, holds degrees in music composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and the University of California, Los Angeles. He is considered one of the pioneers among his generation of Iranian composers whose composition style integrates Persian and Western composition techniques. Known as a tombak virtuoso, he has performed, recorded, and collaborated with some of the most celebrated artists worldwide. Acclaimed by the San Francisco Examiner as “impressive” and by composer John Adams as “unique voice,” Paranj blends Persian rhythmic and melodic influences with Western texture and form in his composition. Recent commissions include works for ensembles such as the Russian String Orchestra, Intersection Contemporary Music Ensemble, Long Beach Opera, Jâca Duo, Aleron Trio, San Francisco New Music Ensemble, One Great City Duo, MSM Symphony Orchestra, and international Low Brass Trio. Additionally, he has composed an original score for the movie “Dressage,” which won the 2018 feature film (generation category) at the Berlin Film Festival. As a scholar, his main research focus lies in the Iranian Āva Style, and he has presented on this topic in various seminars, including the SEM, AMS, and SMT 2022 joint annual meeting. He has received formal recognition from the Mehr Humanitarian Society (2010) and the City and County of San Francisco (2011). Paranj is a founder and music director of The Iranshahr Orchestra and the artistic director of “du vert à l’infini,” a contemporary music festival in the Franche-Comte region of France. He currently serves as a lecturer and postdoctoral fellow at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.

About Maliheh Moradi

Trained by three of the most eminent Iranian vocalists, Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, Parisa, and Ali Asghar Shahzeidi, Maliheh Moradi has attracted attention as a rising star in Iranian classical music. Born to a musical family in 1984, Maliheh began playing tonbak at seven and started singing lessons with her father. She attended the Tehran Conservatory of Music, where she also learned setar. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Persian literature. Maliheh has received training in both vocal and instrumental music from renowned Iranian musicians, including Siamak Jahangiri, Hossein Alizadeh, Mozafar Shafiei, Hasan Pazouki, Mohammad Firouzi, Mohammad-Reza Ebrahimi, and Masoud Shoari. Maliheh has sung in the Mowlavi Opera (along with Homayoun Shajarian), Singing in Shadow (accompanied by Siamak Jahangiri), and Atash Sabz (film score composed by Mohammad-Reza Darvishi). She has performed at international music festivals in Australia, Spain, Germany, and Poland. Recently, Maliheh embarked on a new chapter in the United States to further her musical journey and is a prominent vocalist in the Voices Unveiled music project. Her latest album 'Our Sorrow,' composed by Ehsan Matoori, was released on ARC Nexus World in 2024.

About Sahar Boroujerdi

Sahar Boroujerdi Mohammadi, born in 1988 in Tehran, Iran, is an esteemed Iranian traditional vocalist. Her musical journey began at the age of 15 when she immersed herself in the art of "Setar," eventually venturing into singing a few years later. Under the guidance of revered masters such as Kaykhosro Pourazeri, Afsaneh Rasayi, and Hamidreza Nourbakhsh since 2008, Sahar mastered the Tar with Arshad Tahmasbi, and the Setar with Mohammadreza Lotfi and Masoud Shoari. Earning acclaim as "one of the youngest and most talented vocalists of Iranian traditional music," Sahar captivates audiences with her commanding vocal presence, infusing stages with both elegance and simplicity. Sahar's extensive repertoire includes performances in renowned musical theaters, puppet operas, and distinguished documentaries. Notably, she played a role in the sorrowful letter of Fereydoon alongside Hossein Alizadeh and contributed to numerous productions at Theatre de la Ville in Paris. Sahar featured in a Spanish documentary with Aghmond and collaborated with Mah Banoo Band, contributing to the music soundtrack composed by Behzad Abdi and Mahyar Alizadeh. Her rendition of "the song of the women" garnered attention in France. Having graced Theatre de la Ville (2019, 2021) and performed at prestigious music festivals worldwide, including Bozar Music Festival (2019) and FEZ Music Festival, Sahar's recent outstanding concert at Berlin's Pierre Boulez Saal showcased pieces composed by Kaykhosro and Sohrab Pournazeri. This concert, known as the "Afsaneh Concert," is set to enthrall audiences again in September 2022 at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, UK, featuring a new set of mesmerizing songs that left a lasting impact on the London audience.

This program is made possible by generous support from the Gramian-Emrani Center for Iranian Music.

Ticketing
This event is FREE! No RSVP required. Early arrival is recommended.

PARKING
Self-service parking is available at UCLA’s Parking Structure #2 for events in Schoenberg Music Building and the Evelyn and Mo Ostin Music Center. Visitor parking is marked by a green circle and the letter “P” and is on the lower levels (do not go up the ramp to levels 3-7). Costs range from $4 for 1 hour to $15 for all day. Evening rates (after 4 p.m.) are $3-$5 for 1 to 2 hours and $10 for all night.

ACCESSIBILITY
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is eager to provide a variety of accommodations and services for access and communications. If you would like to request accommodations, please do so 10 days in advance of the event by emailing ADA@schoolofmusic.ucla.edu or calling (310) 825-0174.