11th Annual Celebration of Shab-e Yalda

This program is presented in Persian.
این برنامه به زبان فارسی می باشد

11th Annual Celebration of

SHAB-E YALDA

Join us in celebrating the arrival of the winter solstice, an age-old Iranian tradition filled with enchanting music, evocative poetry, and captivating storytelling.

Saturday, December 16, 2023 – 6:00 PM

Schoenberg Hall - UCLA

Featuring

Gordafarid

VOICES UNVEILED

Vocals: Maliheh Moradi, Mina Deris

Composed by: Ehsan Matoori

Co-Presented by:

About Gordafarid

Gordafarid

The first female Iranian "Naqqal" (traditional Epic Storyteller) of Ferdowsi’s "Shahnameh" (The Epic Book of Kings), Gordafarid has excelled in performing the traditional narration of the Persian epic stories (Naqqali) since 1998.

She has continued her research through the meticulous collection of narratives from all over Iran. She has also patiently followed the footsteps of old masters of this ancient dramatic art.

Gordafarid has come a long way in challenging conventional social norms that consider "Naqqali" as an art form performed solely by men and only for men in public places such as neighborhood coffeehouses. Her perseverance and determination bore fruit when Morshed Torabi, the most famous "Naqqal" of Iran, prized her with his cane to recognize her achievements.

Farhang Foundation has had the pleasure of having Gordafarid headline our annual celebration of Shab-e Yalda for over nine years, and her unforgettable performances have been praised by sold-out audiences and have gone down in the history of our celebrations of Yalda.

About Maliheh Moradi

Malileh

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 new album 'Our Sorrow,' composed by Ehsan Matoori, is set to be published by ARC Nexus World on April 14, 2024.

Follow Maliheh Moradi

About Mina Deris

Mina Deris

Born in 1981 amidst the Iran-Iraq war, she embarked on a lifelong musical journey that would shape her identity and touch the hearts of many. From an early age, Mina's exceptional singing talent captivated those around her, earning her recognition as the best singer among her peers.

At 15, Mina felt a magnetic pull toward the enchanting world of Arab music inspired by the legendary Umm Kulthum. Growing up in Abadan, Iran, her Arab heritage and mother tongue naturally drew her to the mesmerizing melodies of Arabic classical music, known as maqam. After university, Mina dedicated herself to studying Iranian classical music under the guidance of Master Hengameh Akhavan and Master Farhang Sharif.

As her reputation grew, Mina became a sought-after vocalist, collaborating with various Iranian pop, folk, and fusion bands. In 2014, she proudly graduated from the esteemed Music Conservatory of Tehran, a testament to her years of dedication and hard work.

Driven by curiosity and a desire to bridge musical traditions, Mina delved into the exploration of ancient Arab melodies from the southern regions. Her unique approach involved blending these timeless melodies with modern electronic styles, creating a captivating fusion that resonated strongly with the younger generation.

Mina's talent took her to stages worldwide, captivating audiences in Iran, Qatar, Turkey, Italy, Germany, France, and Iraq. In 2017, she expanded her creative horizons by venturing into acting, taking on the role of an actress and singer in a powerful play about homeless women.

Since 2016, Mina has served as the lead singer of the renowned Novak Ensemble, releasing single tracks and albums like "Agitation" and "Bidel," which showcased her artistic vision and musical depth.

With the winds of change blowing in her homeland, Mina made the difficult decision to seek a new chapter in the United States. At Boston University, she delivered a powerful concert recounting the story of four decades of oppression and pressure.

Today, Mina is honored to be part of the Unveiled Voices band alongside composer Ehsan Matoori and singer Maliheh Moradi. Together, they continue to enchant audiences with heartfelt music, transcending cultural boundaries and connecting souls through the power of melody.

Mina Deris's life journey has been passionate, resilient, and an unwavering pursuit of artistic expression. Through her music, she hopes to touch the hearts of many and leave a lasting legacy that celebrates diversity and the unifying language of music.

Follow Mina Deris

About Ehsan Matoori

Ehsan Matoori

Ehsan Matoori is an Iranian Santoor player, Composer and Music Producer.

Born in 1979 in Iran, Ehsan Matoori began learning Santoor (Iranian-dulcimer) based on Maestro Faramarz Payvar’s method at age 9.

He studied instrumental and vocal Radif (Iranian musical repertory) with Parviz Meshkatian and Pashang Kamkar, and later started teaching Santoor.

Ehsan took lessons from Ardavan Kamkar, one of the greatest contemporary Santoor players of Iran, known for his distinct playing style and tuning techniques. In addition to playing Santoor, Ehsan has studied music composition and harmony with Farhad Fakhroaldini and children’s music with Soudabeh Salem.

After moving to the United States in 2013, Ehsan performed with world music masters such as Sandeep Das (tabla), Jamal Mohamed (percussionist), Paul Sriji (mridangam), Maeve Gilchrist (jazz harp), Matthew Coley (marimba), Mike Block (cello), Bassam Saba (oud), Sybarite5 (string quintet) and Greg Ellis (percussionist). He has also been a member of SMU world music ensemble since 2013 and a member of the Silk Road Global Musicians Workshop as a faculty assistant and performer since 2016.

His first album “Phantasm” in collaboration with Mohsen Namjoo was published in 2019 and streamed more than 4,000,000 times and downloaded on all digital platforms. His love of learning about cultures and feeling their melodies, has inspired his musical compositions which represent these cultures and bring new words to the world. Exploring diverse musical and poetic traditions around the world, Matoori has recently been working on a multilingual project called “The Voices and Bridges” which was announced by the BBC world, BBC Persian and the Silk Road Project in July 2019 and July 2020.

Ehsan believes that his music “should bring happiness to people and bring people together.”