HOW-radio | Global Club Nights – Helsinki Open Waves

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.

Duration: 60 min