"Intercultural Music in Iran and its Diaspora"

موسیقی تلفیقی در ایران و دیاسپورا

This talk examines how Iranian musicians have turned to intercultural collaborations—since the aftermath of the 1979 Revolution and into the present—as a way to connect with the wider world. Through examples from Iran and its diaspora, it explores whether these encounters reflect modernization, inclusiveness, or both, and considers the line between cultural exoticism and genuine artistic exchange.

Guest Speaker: Artist/Scholar, Dr. Hesam Abedini, Presentation in English

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Guest Artist/Scholar: Hesam Abedini

Hesam Abedini is an Iranian–American composer, performer, improviser, and educator whose work explores intercultural dialogue between classical Persian music, jazz, Western contemporary traditions, and computer music. A founding member of the Sibarg Ensemble, he is recognized for a polystylistic approach that integrates diverse musical languages through improvisation and new composition. His works have been performed by ensembles including the JACK Quartet, Del Sol Quartet, Eclipse Quartet, Hypercube, and loadbang.

Alongside composing and performing, Abedini is active as a curator, producer, and filmmaker. His projects include the NEA- and Roshan-sponsored documentary From Isfahan to Irvine, archived at the Library of Congress, and recordings such as Cipher (with Sibarg Ensemble), Kooch-e Khamân (co-produced with Del Sol Quartet, Billboard Classical Chart #5), Ode to Love (with Namâd Ensemble), and Circadian Etudes (with The Assembly for Distance Alchemy). He is also a writer for the Pish Radif website, an educational platform created to make classical Persian music accessible to learners from all backgrounds.

Educated at the Tehran Music Conservatory, UC San Diego (B.A.), and UC Irvine (Ph.D. in Integrated Composition, Improvisation, and Technology), he studied with Lei Liang, Chinary Ung, Anthony Davis, Mark Dresser, Christopher Dobrian, Hossein Omoumi, and Michael Dessen. In 2025 he joined California State University, Fullerton as Assistant Professor of Composition–Music Theory, where he serves as Assistant Director of the CSUF New Music Series. (www.hesamabedini.com)