From Requiem To The Light

Created & Composed by Ehsan Matoori

presents

FROM REQUIEM TO THE LIGHT

A Three-Part Visual Music Project

Created and Composed by

EHSAN MATOORI

Featuring

MIRIAM PERETZ

GORDAFARID

ROXANA SARRAFI

RASHIN KHEIRIYEH

MAX THOMPSON

KRISTIN FARINA

Directed by

ARAMEH ETEMADI

World Premiere, March 23, 2026 - 11AM PST

Exclusively for Farhang Performances

From Requiem to the Light is a three-part visual music project created and composed by Ehsan Matoori. Through this work, Matoori reflects on grief, resistance, and renewal in times of collective uncertainty.

Created in response to recent events affecting the Iranian people, the project begins with A Requiem for Iran, a meditation on loss, memory, and the voices that remain. It then turns to the ancient Persian myth of Kaveh and Zahhak, where the blacksmith rises against tyranny, transforming grief into voice and silence into resistance.

The final chapter arrives with Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, a symbolic space of rebirth and resilience. Here, the work does not resolve grief, but carries it forward into renewal.

Rooted in Iranian musical traditions and expanded through contemporary composition, dance, and visual storytelling, Matoori’s trilogy moves between myth and lived experience, offering a passage from darkness toward light.

About Ehsan Matoori

Ehsan Matoori 350px 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.”

Discover Ehsan Matoori

About Miriam Peretz

Miriam Peretz 350p Miriam Peretz is an internationally celebrated dance instructor and performer whose signature style has spread globally through her collective Nava and intensive trainings. Drawing on sacred dance traditions, Central Asian forms, Sufi whirling, and ritual, her work blends martial arts, contemporary dance, and Flamenco influences.

A dynamic and inspiring teacher, Miriam creates spaces for self-growth, healing, and physical challenge. Rooted in her practice as a dervish, her classes integrate spirituality, ritual, and community, offering students a deeply immersive experience of body, heart, mind, and spirit.

As a performer, she explores ritualistic dance and cross-cultural, devotional themes, often dissolving the boundary between audience and performer. She has danced with renowned companies including Inbal Ethnic Dance Theater and Ballet Afsaneh, and performed internationally with master musicians.

Miriam’s global studies and travels inform her work, fostering connection across cultures. She is the founder of Nava Dance Collective and creator of the Miriam’s Well Project, an interfaith performance initiative rooted in unity through sacred dance.

Discover Miriam Peretz

About Gordafarid

Gordafarid 350px Gordafarid stands as Iran’s first female “Naqqal,” a traditional epic storyteller of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh (The Epic Book of Kings). Since 1998, she has excelled in reviving and performing Naqqali, the age-old art of narrating Persian epic tales, with extraordinary skill and dedication. Her commitment extends beyond performance; she has meticulously collected narratives from across Iran, pursuing the legacy of this dramatic tradition by studying with the masters of the craft.

With unwavering resolve, Gordafarid has challenged deep-rooted norms that once confined Naqqali to male performers in public venues such as local coffeehouses. Her trailblazing journey was honored by Morshed Torabi, the most esteemed Naqqal of Iran, who symbolically gifted her his cane, a powerful endorsement of her impact on the art form.

For over a decade, Farhang Foundation has proudly featured Gordafarid as the headline performer in our annual Shab-e Yalda celebration. Her unforgettable performances have not only captivated sold-out audiences but have also become a cherished part of our Yalda history, earning lasting admiration and praise.

Discover Gordafarid

About Roxana Sarrafi

Roxana Sarrafi 350px Roxana Sarrafi is an Iranian classical vocalist whose artistry is deeply rooted in the rich traditions of Persian music. Born in Iran, she began her musical journey at the age of eleven, studying both voice and the setar and tar, and quickly developed a profound connection to the expressive depth of Persian classical repertoire.

Although she holds a master’s degree in law, Sarrafi chose to dedicate her life to music, pursuing vocal performance as her primary artistic path. Since 2000, she has trained extensively in Persian classical singing with esteemed masters including Gh. Rezai, H. Nourbakhsh, and Parisa. Her musical education also includes rigorous study of music theory and solfège with Siavash Roshan, through which she gained a strong technical foundation and a nuanced understanding of the Persian radif tradition.

Throughout her career, Sarrafi has performed widely in Iran, collaborating with leading figures such as Alireza Ghorbani, Ali Ghamsari, and Ramin Behna. Following her relocation to the United States, she has continued to present Persian classical music to diverse audiences, with performances across major cultural centers including Washington, D.C., Virginia, Texas, and California.

In recent years, she has expanded her artistic voice through international collaborations. She participated in the Silk Road Global Musician Workshop in Boston in both 2023 and 2025, where she worked alongside renowned artists such as Abeer Nehme, Mike Block, Kala Ramnath, and Veronica Robles.

Through performance, collaboration, and education, Roxana Sarrafi is committed to preserving the integrity of Persian classical music while fostering cross-cultural dialogue and connection with audiences around the world.

Discover Roxana Sarrafi

About Rashin Kheiriyeh

Rashin 350px Rashin Kheiriyeh (b. 1979, Khorramshahr, Iran) is an Iranian-American multidisciplinary artist, author, and illustrator known for her vibrant, surreal, and imaginative work rooted in Persian classical narratives. A survivor of the Iran–Iraq war, she was introduced to art by her mother—an artist and midwife—and grew up immersed in Persian miniatures and classical literature.

Working across oil, Indian ink, gold leaf, and printmaking on canvas, Kheiriyeh creates a visual language that bridges historical tradition and contemporary life. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker and The New York Times, and explores themes of identity, feminism, belonging, conflict, and cultural heritage.

In 2007, she was selected as one of the contemporary Iranian artists featured in Wishes and Dreams, a traveling exhibition organized by the Meridian International Center and the U.S. State Department’s International Cultural Exchange Program. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including To Be a Woman (Dana Gallery, Montana), Two Parrots (Shirin Gallery, New York), Isfahan (Syra Arts Gallery, Washington, D.C.), and Cherry Garden (Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.).

In addition to her visual art practice, Kheiriyeh is an accomplished children’s book author and illustrator, with over 100 published titles, including Rumi: Poet of Joy and Love and The Shape of Home.

Discover Rashin Kheiriyeh

About Max Thompson

Max Thampson 350px Max Thompson is a Los Angeles–based dancer and performer whose work bridges contemporary movement, street dance, and theatrical expression. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, he began his career in the digital dance space as a member of the viral trio Elektro Botz, gaining early recognition for his dynamic style and choreographic precision.

Building on this foundation, Thompson has evolved into a versatile stage artist, bringing a strong physical presence and expressive range to live performance. His work integrates elements of urban dance with contemporary and narrative-driven movement, allowing him to adapt seamlessly across concert stages, interdisciplinary productions, and collaborative performance settings.

He has performed at major events including World of Dance Los Angeles and has continued to expand his artistic voice through collaborations with musicians, directors, and choreographers across the United States. His approach to performance emphasizes musicality, storytelling, and a deep connection between movement and emotion.

Through his ongoing work in live performance and cross-disciplinary projects, Max Thompson continues to develop a distinctive voice that reflects both his roots in street dance culture and his commitment to contemporary performance practice.

Discover Max Thompson

About Kristin Farina

Kristin Farina 350px Kristin Farina is a Los Angeles–based dancer and choreographer known for her dynamic movement, versatility, and powerful stage presence. With over 15 years of professional experience, she has established herself as a multifaceted artist working across commercial, concert, and digital platforms.

Throughout her career, Farina has collaborated with internationally recognized artists including Jennifer Lopez, Chris Brown, LMFAO, and Khalid. Her work has also been featured in major commercial campaigns for global brands such as Coca-Cola, Toyota, Six Flags, and Under Armour. She gained wider public recognition through her appearance on Season 3 of World of Dance, where her performance highlighted both her technical precision and expressive range.

In addition to her performance career, Farina has cultivated a global online community of over 1.5 million followers. Through her digital platform, she shares her artistic journey while mentoring and inspiring emerging dancers, encouraging them to pursue their creative ambitions and expand their reach.

An accomplished educator and international adjudicator, Farina has traveled extensively, teaching and performing for diverse audiences around the world. Trained in a wide range of styles, including hip hop, contemporary, breaking, and jazz, she is known for her ability to seamlessly fuse movement languages, creating work that is both technically refined and emotionally resonant.

Driven by a deep commitment to artistic growth and community building, Kristin Farina continues to push the boundaries of her craft while empowering others to discover and develop their own creative voice.