Presents

Maestro Shardad Rohani’s

The Inaugural Season

Music Director, Shardad Rohani

Friday, January 31, 2025

 

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PROGRAM

ROMANIAN FOLK DANCES
Composer: Bela Bartok

BOYER AHMADI
Iranian Folk Song
The Ava Choir
Arranged by Shardad Rohani

GOLE PAMCHAL
Iranian Folk Song
The Ava Choir
Arranged by Shardad Rohani

GHOGHAYE SETAREGAN
Composer: Homayoun Khoram
The Ava Choir
Arranged by Shardad Rohani

AZADI
Composer: Gholnoush Khaleghi
The Ava Choir
Arranged by Shardad Rohani 

PALLADIO
Composer: Carl Jenkins
Arrangement: Shardad Rohani

SANGHE KHARA
Composer: Ali Tajvidi
Soloist: Oliver Hakim
Arrangement: Shardad Rohani

PERSIAN GARDEN
Composer: Shardad Rohani
Soloist: Aidin Ahmadinejad

AZIZ JOON
Iranian Folk Song
Vocal: Raeeka Shehabi-Yaghmai

MELODY
Composer: Myroslav Skoryk
Soloist: Aryan Bolurchian
Arrangement: Shardad Rohani

BAHARE DELNESHIN
Composer: Rohollah Khaleqi
Arrangement: Shardad Rohani

LIBERTANGO
Composer: Astor Piazzolla
Arrangement: Shardad Rohani

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Intermission

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MOTHERLAND
Composer: Shardad Rohani

GOLDEN DREAM
Melody: Javad Maroufi
Arrangement: Shardad Rohani

OZRA'S DANCE
Composer: Shardad Rohani

ETERNITY
Composer: Shardad Rohani

DANCE OF SPRING
Composer: Shardad Rohani

MOTHER
Composer: Shardad Rohani

SWEET MOMENTS
(Solo Piano)
Composer: Shardad Rohani

FREEDOM SQUARE
Composer: Shardad Rohani

THOUGHT OF THE PAST
Composer: Shardad Rohani

ESFAHAN
Melody: Javad Maroufi
Arrangement: Shardad Roahni

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The Roudaki Orchestra

Shahrdad Rohani

Conductor, composer & pianist, Roudaki Orchestra’s artistic director

Aidin Ahmadinejad - Cello Solo
Aryan Blourchian - Violin Solo
Oliver Hakim - Kamancheh Solo
Raeeka Shehabi-Yaghmai - Vocalist
Edris Foroughi - Ava Choir Conductor

The Roudaki Orchestra

FIRST VIOLINS
Aryan Blourchian - Concert Master
Sepideh Moazzez
Edgar Sandoval
Abtin Farrokh
Gabriel Esporon
Shawyon Malek
Yiran Yao

SECOND VIOLINS
Sahand Zare - Principal
Sarah Bunch
Oliver Hakim
Ramin Yousefzamani
Dorsa Zarei
Elham Taeed

VIOLA
Hailey Walterman - Principal
Shahryar Khansari
Sogol Aliabadi
Ali Jabbari

CELLO
Aidin Ahmadinejad - Principal
Kimia Jamshid
Iman Torkian
Logan Hodgson
Candice Oh

DOUBLE BASS
Shahin Yousefzamani - Principal
Skyler Lee
Fernando Serrano

HARP
Elaine Litster Olson

FLUTE
Katrina Curdy

OBOE
Bennet Imai

CLARINET
Myko Crisostomo

FRENCH HORNS
Emma Lumsden - Principal
Nathan Jones
Aziel Ressler

PERCUSSION
Caleb Conner
James Waterman
Pershing Fallahpour

The Ava Choir

Soprano
Marta Abrahimians
Maryam Amiri
Sharisa Hadi
Shima Monfared
Roxana Moghaddam
Setareh Safamanesh
Armita SheariAlto

Fariba Afshar
Mojdeh Beik
Shima Mofid
Yvette Nazarian
Leila Sarkamari

Alto
Fariba Afshar
Mojdeh Beik
Setareh Kowsari
Shima Mofid
Yvette Nazarian
Leila Sarkamari
Roni Malakmehr

Tenor
Fereydoon Faryar
Nima Honar
Max Karimpour
Edwin Mamo

Bass
Milad Azmoudeh
Kambiz Davoodi
Edris Foroughi
Alireza Movassaghi

 

As the founder and artistic director, it is my great pleasure to introduce the newly formed Roudaki Orchestra to Southern California. Named after the renowned ninth-century Iranian poet, singer, and musician Roudaki—celebrated as the "father of Persian poetry"—the orchestra honors his legacy and the cultural heritage he represents. The name also evokes the splendid Roudaki Hall, built by Eugene Aftandilian and modeled after the Vienna Opera House. Inaugurated by their Majesties Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Farah Pahlavi in 1967, Roudaki Hall brought classical music to Iran on a stage comparable to the great venues of Europe and the world.

My vision for the Roudaki Orchestra is to celebrate the rich musical traditions of Iran by performing works from both past and contemporary Iranian composers. Additionally, we aim to educate and inspire a new generation of musicians by introducing them to classical music and providing opportunities for underrepresented communities and individuals to play in a professional ensemble.

As we say in our beautiful language:
برگ سبزیست تحفه درویش
(A green leaf is a humble gift).
 ~ Shardad Rohani ~