Mehdi Bagheri,
kamancheh virtuoso & Multi-instrumentalist
Born 1980, Mehdi Bagheri has fast become one of the most renowned practitioners of the Persian Kamancheh of his generation. A composer and multi-instrumentalist born in Kermanshah, Iran. Mehdi received his master’s degree from the Arak University in 2004, studying with luminaries of traditional Iranian music including Maestros Kayhan Kalhor & Ardeshir Kamkar, while simultaneously pursuing a degree in Dramatic Theater.
He has performed worldwide at festivals such as the Oslo World Music Festival and Morgenland Festival (Osnabrück – Germany), he has appeared at the Théâtre de la Ville (Paris – France), the Smithsonian Institute (Washington, D.C.), the Asia Society (Houston, TX), and the Getty Center (Los Angeles, CA), LA Philharmonic 100 (Hollywood Bowl), as well as appearing with the Berlin Radio Choir, featuring performances of his works in the RBB Hall. Mehdi has been dynamically pursuing his work in various fields such as music of the film, eclectic music and Iranian classical music inside Iran and abroad. He has also published a variety of works with a large number of singers and musicians. Amongst all his most important works are the recording and publishing of the Radif by Maestro Aliakbar Khan Shahnazi, the old melodic figures preserved through many generations by oral tradition; solo and group pieces for Kamancheh, etc. Since 2011, Mehdi resides in Southern California, sharing his music through a broad range of performance, recording, and educational practices.
Daneshvar Family Ensemble
The Daneshvar Family Ensemble was formed in 2002 with the group being made up of two sisters, Parvaneh and Parisa, and two brothers, Babak and Behnam Daneshvar. The oldest member of the group of Babak, who in 1991 entered the music world with his performances on Santour, his sister, Parvaneh with Tar and Setar, Behnam with Tombak and Parisa with Ney.
The first concert that they too on stage was in Zanjan, Iran in 2004, which was followed by concerts in Tehran and in other cities throughout Iran. Alongside having their own music group, the Daneshvar family had established its own school of music called The Daneshvar Music Institute in Zanjan, where they all taught music to children and gave lessons for learning various instruments. Throughout all the years that they taught music, they nurtured many musically talented and passionate students, a few of whom included their nephew, Mehrpouya Daneshvar, and their neice, Diba Javidbakht. Both of these students have continued in the advancement of music and education thereof.
In 2006, a new member was added to the group, Mehdi Bagheri, who is a composer and Kamancheh player as well as Parisa’s husband. He has performed in several of the Daneshvar concerts in Iran and internationally.
The Daneshvar Ensemble currently reside in Southern California and has given concerts in different states. The Daneshvars Music Institute is situated in Southern California and has begun teaching different Persian instruments, Traditional and Classical Music, as well as teaching music to children.
