Annual Celebration of Nowruz in Orange County - 2025
Nowruz: The Concert
The Return of the Masters
March 29, 2025
The Magnificent Pournazeri Trio
Musical Director Carl St.Clair
With Special Guest Soloists
Pre-concert Festivities from 7–8 PM include:
Haft Sîn Display and Traditional Iranian Musicians
Haft Sîn designed by A SEED AND STONE
About Kaykhosro Pournazeri
Kaykhosro Pournazeri, born in Kermanshah (Iran), studied music under master musicians Ostad Vaziri and Darvish Khan. He began his university studies in engineering, but soon realized his musical interests were stronger and left engineering to start music training at the Department of Fine Arts at Tehran University.
In 1971, he began working at the Department of Culture and Art, studying and recording Kurdish music, and directing orchestras of both Kurdish and Persian traditional music. After the Iranian revolution he started to exclusively research the sacred, little-known tanbur, and began composing modern classical Persian music for it.
The establishment of the Shams Ensemble in 1980 by Kaykhosro was a turning point in the development of modern classical Persian music, combining a deep understanding of the music and the spiritual meaning of the tanbur with the poetry of Rumi and the daf frame drum.
Through the Shams School of Music that he founded, Kaykhosro has taught numerous students.
About Tahmoures Pournazeri
Tahmoures Pournazeri is a musician and composer whose creativity and inventiveness have marked him as a distinguished artist of his generation.
He has been acclaimed by the U.S. Senate for composing music for the International Norooz Celebration, and collaborated with artists like Joan Baez, Shujaat Hussain Khan, and the great master Mohammad Reza Shajarian.
He has composed for fifteen albums covering six genres of music, participated in the Avignon Festival at the age of 15, won first honors among Young Iranian Talents at age 14, and performed with the Shams Ensemble at Iran’s most celebrated concert halls starting at age 12.
Tahmoures was born in February 1977 to the musical Pournazeri family. His father Kaykhosro Pournazeri is known as the father of Sufi music and of the Tanboor, his grandfather Haji Khan was a distinguished Tar player, and his passionate, compassionate mother is fondly remembered by the family members as their primary supporter.
Tahmoures’ fascination with music is a result of growing up in this environment. At a time when even the simplest musical performance would be discouraged by the government and television programs were not allowed to broadcast the playing of instruments, the young Tahmoures had music and musical instruments as his only means of play and entertainment – and the poems of Rumi & Hafez were (and remain) his story-books and guides.
Tahmoures’ knowledge in the fields of Iranian tribal and traditional music, as well as western-style composition, has allowed him to create a new and original style – which is considered a great accomplishment in Eastern music.
Along with his father Kaykhosro and his brother Sohrab, Tahmoures leads and directs the Shams Ensemble – considered one of Iran’s foremost musical groups. He plays all the major Iranian instruments, concentrating especially on the Tar, Setar, Tanbur, Barbat, and Daf – and has experimented with and composed for new instruments designed by MohammadReza Shajarian.
Tahmoures continues to compose in the fields of mystical music, modern Iranian classical music, Kurdish music, symphonic orchestral music, and modern fusion. He also has extensive experience in the field of music recording.
His cooperation with Homayoun Shajarian, the celebrated Iranian singer, has led to a best-selling album, ‘Beyond Any Form’, and the highest grossing concert tour in the history of Iranian music, with a total audience of over 120,000. The album also features Sohrab Pournazeri on the Kamancheh, American composer David K. Garner, Indian Sitar virtuoso Shujaat Khan, Venezuelan flautist Pedro Eustache, and American blues guitarist Jimmy Johnson.
About Sohrab Pournazeri
Sohrab Pournazeri, a virtuoso of Tanbour, Kamancheh, and Setar, stands as one of the pioneers in performing Iranian contemporary music. His father, Kaykhosro Pournazeri, who founded the Shams Ensemble in 1980, is a respected composer and tanbur player in Iran. Sohrab joined the Shams Ensemble at the age of twelve, and since then, he has been captivating audiences through performances, recordings, and collaborations with world-class musicians globally.
Sohrab was born in 1983 to the musical family of Pournazeris. His father Kaykhosro Pournazeri is one of Iran’s most influential composer, and his brother Tahmoures has engendered a new movement in Iranian music through his performances and compositions.
Sohrab has followed in the footsteps of his musical family, yet has achieved distinct and idiosyncratic techniques that have rendered his method of playing into something entirely unprecedented. He also pursues vocalizing and composing with the same unique approach, and has been able to steer the distinct Pournazeri musical form (with its emphasis on passion, emotion, and inventiveness) towards new horizons.
In the summer of 2017, Sohrab performed the ‘C Project’ for the first time alongside Homayoun Shajarian in Tehran’s historical Saadabad Palace Complex, a project he created with the aim of reviving the “wisdom” and old traditions of the Shahnameh (‘The Book of Kings’) for the young generation and familiarizing the audience with the roots of ancient Iranian culture and literature. In this project, Iranian musicians work alongside actors, artists, a film crew, and lighting and sound experts in order to create a unique multifaceted experience for the audience.
Sohrab is also well versed in the regional music of his native Iran, as well as western classical music, and holds a degree in Music Performance. As a soloist and vocalist, Sohrab has collaborated with artists and ensembles worldwide – including Mr. Shajarian, Shujaat Hussain Khan, the Beyond Borders Project, and the Pacific Symphony.
In 2023, Sohrab was featured as a soloist in the inaugural concert of the Iranshahr Orchestra in Los Angeles, sharing the stage with Hila Plitman.
About Carl St.Clair
The 2024-25 season marks Music Director Carl St.Clair’s 35th year leading Pacific Symphony.
He is the longest-tenured American-born conductor of a major American orchestra. During St.Clair’s lengthy history, Pacific Symphony has become the largest budgeted orchestra formed in the last 50 years. Pacific Symphony was invited by the League of American Orchestras to become the newest and youngest orchestra among America’s Tier 1 Orchestras. Few orchestras can claim such rapid artistic development. During his tenure, St.Clair has become widely recognized for his musically distinguished performances and his innovative approaches to programming. READ MORE
About Sahar Boroujerdi
Sahar Boroujerdi, born in 1988 in Tehran, is an esteemed Iranian traditional vocalist. Her musical journey began at the age of 15 when she immersed herself in the art of "Setar," eventually venturing into singing a few years later. Under the guidance of revered masters such as Kaykhosro Pourazeri, Afsaneh Rasayi, and Hamidreza Nourbakhsh since 2008, Sahar mastered the Tar with Arshad Tahmasbi, and the Setar with Mohammadreza Lotfi and Masoud Shoari. Earning acclaim as "one of the youngest and most talented vocalists of Iranian traditional music," Sahar captivates audiences with her commanding vocal presence, infusing stages with both elegance and simplicity. Sahar's extensive repertoire includes performances in renowned musical theaters, puppet operas, and distinguished documentaries. Notably, she played a role in the sorrowful letter of Fereydoon alongside Hossein Alizadeh and contributed to numerous productions at Theatre de la Ville in Paris. Sahar featured in a Spanish documentary with Aghmond and collaborated with Mah Banoo Band, contributing to the music soundtrack composed by Behzad Abdi and Mahyar Alizadeh. Her rendition of "the song of the women" garnered attention in France. Having graced Theatre de la Ville (2019, 2021) and performed at prestigious music festivals worldwide, including Bozar Music Festival (2019) and FEZ Music Festival, Sahar's recent outstanding concert at Berlin's Pierre Boulez Saal showcased pieces composed by Kaykhosro and Sohrab Pournazeri. This concert, known as the "Afsaneh Concert," enthralled audiences and was once again performed on September 2022 at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London featuring a new set of mesmerizing songs that left a lasting impact on the London audience. Most recently Sahar shared the stage with master Kaykhosro Pournazeri at UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music to celebrate the launch of the Gramian-Emrani Center for Iranian Music, and she headlined Farhang Foundation’s 2024 Nowruz Concert at Royce Hall alongside Sohrab and Tahmoures Pournazeri and the Iranshahr Orchestra.
About Tina Jamegarmi
Tina Jamegarmi (b. 1983) is an accomplished violinist, composer, and music educator whose journey in music began at the age of six with the santoor (hammered dulcimer). By ten, she had discovered her passion for the violin—an instrument that would define her illustrious career. She is one of the pioneering female musicians who, despite significant post-revolutionary constraints on women in Iran, gained entry into Iran’s School of Music, where she later graduated before earning a master’s degree in music.
Tina’s artistry spans a diverse range of musical styles, seamlessly blending traditional Middle Eastern, classical, and jazz influences. Her dedication to musical excellence has earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Musicema Award for Best Album with the Scheherazade Quartet, which she founded 15 years ago. This groundbreaking ensemble, composed of four female graduates of the School of Music, has performed at international classical music festivals and released three acclaimed albums, including The Other Side, which won the “Iranian Grammy Award” for Best Album.
As a performer, Tina has played as a soloist and concertmaster with Tehran’s Symphony Orchestra, Iran’s National Orchestra, and the Iran Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also composed and arranged music that integrates classical and Iranian folk traditions, showcasing her innovative approach to cross-genre fusion. One of her most compelling works, Iranian Girl’s Story, is a violin solo and orchestral arrangement that narrates the journey of Iranian women from constraint to freedom.
Beyond her performance career, Tina has dedicated over two decades to music education, teaching at universities and music institutions. She is recognized as an Elite Young Musician by the Iranian Elite Association and continues to shape the next generation of musicians through her expertise and passion. Tina Jamegarmi’s remarkable career stands as a testament to her perseverance, artistry, and commitment to both tradition and innovation in music. Whether on stage or in the classroom, her contributions to the musical world remain both inspiring and significant.
About Donya Kamali
Born in 1991 in Kermanshah, Iran, Donya Kamali is an acclaimed instrumentalist and vocalist, known for her enchanting voice and expertise on the Tanbour. Trained by notable musicians such as her father Fereydoun Kamali and uncles, she emerged as a musical prodigy, winning several awards at Kurdish Music Festivals from a young age.
Donya gained prominence as the lead vocalist of the Nishtiman Ensemble, under the direction of Sohrab Pournazeri. She featured on the album "Kobane" in the "Nishtiman 2" project, which received widespread acclaim. Her performances have lit up stages globally, including prestigious festivals like Forde Festival and Au Fil Des Voix.
Her collaboration with Tahmoures Pournazeri led to significant projects such as Female Voices of Iran. Additionally, Donya has been a vital part of the Shams Ensemble, performing at notable events like the Barana Music Festival and Konya Sufi Music Festival.
Her latest work includes the album "Zhina", composed by Sohrab Pournazeri, where she serves as the vocalist.
Hotel Accommodations Provided by Hyatt Regency Newport Beach West
Event Details
| Event Starts | 03/29/2025 – 8:00 pm |
| Event Ends | 03/29/2025 |
| Individual Price | Variable |
| Location | Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall |
