About SHIRAZ

SHIRAZ is a Philadelphia-based contemporary music ensemble that unites musicians performing the traditional instruments of Iran. Driven by the core values of curiosity, innovation, open dialogue, and experimentation, the ensemble is dedicated to creating groundbreaking new music and collaborating closely with composers, performers, and interdisciplinary artists.

The vision of SHIRAZ is rooted in the multilayered backgrounds of its members, each bringing distinct musical educations and diverse artistic experiments to the collective. The ensemble’s core mission is to blend innovation and tradition. SHIRAZ pushes the structural boundaries of Iranian music while honoring its deep cultural heritage within modern contexts and discourses.

With a strong commitment to community-oriented audience building, SHIRAZ works to amplify composers, historical aesthetics, and musical forms that have often been marginalized. By collaborating with artists across a wide spectrum of cultures and disciplines, the ensemble aims to create new shades of musical expression, explore vast artistic territories, and build enduring bridges through music and art.

Shiraz Ensemble has performed at Yale University's New Music New Haven, Princeton University's Iranian Studies Department, Temple University's Cybersound Series, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the Asian Arts Initiative, University Lutheran, The Perch, 12-Gates Gallery, Le Mondo in Baltimore, and Market Street Music in Delaware. SHIRAZ has collaborated with various artists and ensembles, including Mahya Hamedi, Violalia Duo, Maya Miro Johnson, Matt Wellins, Shawn O'Sullivan, Negar Soleymanifar, and Hodge-Podge Band, fostering a creative exchange that highlights the versatility and vibrancy of Iranian music in a modern context.