Sourena Sefati's Nava Persian Trio

A virtuoso player and composer on the Iranian santoor (hammered dulcimer), Sourena Sefati is also an author and teacher and heir to a heritage of Persian music that stretches back to 700 BC. While deeply rooted in the ancient tradition, “he carries that tradition into the modern era with an extraordinary breadth of expression.” The Persian classical music he performs consists of a traditional repertoire of approximately 300 short melodies known as the radif, which, in performance, form the basis for extended improvisations. Persian classical musicians are judged mainly on their knowledge of the radif as well as their ability to improvise upon them. Sefati, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Tehran and a Master’s degree in Iranian music performance from Art University, has performed in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, appeared on more than 50 albums, and performed as a soloist with the Iran Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra, Iranian Chamber Orchestra and other ensembles. Born in Ramsar, Iran, he emigrated to the U.S. in 2014 and now makes his home in New Mexico. The Nava Persian Trio also features Mehdi Bagheri on kamancheh (spiked fiddle) and vocals; and Erfan Nazemzadeh on percussion.