Shahab Paranj to Assume Role as Post-Doctoral Researcher at School of Music
Shahab Paranj, a renowned composer and instrumentalist, has joined the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music as the Postdoctoral Scholar of Iranian music. This exciting development has been accompanied by a series of events that celebrate Paranj's arrival and the school's commitment to Iranian arts and culture.
On Friday, May 19, a panel discussion titled "The Influence of Persian Instruments on Contemporary Composers" is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Schoenberg Hall. The discussion will feature Paranj, along with School of Music faculty composers Richard Danielpour, Ian Krouse, and Reza Vali from Carnegie Mellon University.
The following Monday, May 22, another panel discussion, this time focusing on contemporary composition from a non-Eurocentric perspective, will take place. Erberk Erylmaz from Ankara Music and Fine Arts University and Reza Vali will participate in this discussion.
These panel discussions aim to explore the ways in which traditional Turkish and Persian music enhance the creative process of contemporary composers, delve into complex issues about authenticity and cultural appropriation in cultural exchange, and provide a platform for second-generation Iranians to learn about Iranian music and culture, as stated by Alireza Ardekani, Executive Director of Farhang Foundation.
Farhang Foundation, a non-profit organisation that promotes Iranian arts and culture, has donated $1 million to support Paranj's appointment and the establishment of the Iranian Music Minor at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. The foundation has also been a long-time supporter of the UCLA Film & Television Archive's annual UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema.
On Sunday, May 21, a concert of contemporary and classical Persian music, curated by Paranj, is scheduled. The concert will feature traditional Persian classical music, improvisation, and contemporary pieces written by Richard Danielpour, Reza Vali, and Ian Krouse. The concert will be performed by Paranj, Sohrab Pournazeri, Pejman Hadadi, and the Iranshahr String Quartet.
Paranj's appointment bolsters the School of Music's minor in Iranian music, and he will teach courses in the departments of music, music industry, and ethnomusicology.
In addition to these events, a world premiere concert, "IRANSHAHR ORCHESTRA," featuring vocalist Mahdieh Mohammadkhani and conducted by Paranj, was held on July 3, 2025. A panel discussion on Iranian Female Singers, moderated by Paranj, took place as part of the artistic events around June 16, 2025. Although no exact timing for a pre-concert talk is provided, the panel discussion led by Paranj on June 16 may have served as an intellectual or contextual event leading up to the musical performance on July 3.
These events mark an exciting time for the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and the promotion of Iranian arts and culture.
In the spirit of celebrating Shahab Paranj's appointment at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, a concert of contemporary and classical Persian music will take place on May 21, featuring various instruments and compositions, including those by Paranj, Richard Danielpour, Reza Vali, and Ian Krouse. To further delve into the influence of Persian music on contemporary composers, a panel discussion titled "The Influence of Persian Instruments on Contemporary Composers" will occur on May 19, focusing on authenticity, cultural exchange, and education-and-self-development.
