Saman Shahi 

BaMus, MaMus University of Toronto, Composition, 

Faculty of Music 2010, 2012, 

Email: Samanshahi@gmail.com / Phone: 647-868-1367
Websites: http://www.samanshahimusic.com / http://www.icot.ca 

Qualifications: 

• Emerging Professional, holding a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto in Composition.
   
• Co-founder and Executive Manager of ICOT ( Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto).
   
• Active pianist, composer, Tar player, arranger and conductor.
  
•  Composition: 
• “Interlude” commissioned by Toronto Multicultural Orchestra, Tirgan Festival, March 2019, Toronto
   
• “In Search of” commissioned by Spectrum Music for Choir and Jazz trio, February
  23,24 2019 Toronto, Hamilton.
   
• “New Horizon” for Scarborough Philharmonic Winds, March 30 2019
   
• “The Journey: Notes of Hope” an Opera by ICOT. November 2018, Toronto
   
• “Rumi Fables” alongside ICOT and Ladom Ensemble, Agha Khan Museme, September
  2018, Nuit Blanche
   
• “Etude No.1” Piano Solo, performed on April 30 at the Glenn Gould School of Music by
  Marina Simeonova and May 14th at the University of Tehran by the composer.
   
• “Smog” Commissioned and Performed by the West Buck Choir, April 2018 as well as Cantabile chamber Singer in March 2019, Toronto, Pennsylvania,  
   
• “Microlocking” Commissioned by the junctQin keyboard trio through Toronto Arts
  Council, and Ontario Arts Council March 2018 in Waterloo, August 2018 Toronto.
   
• “Three Songs” performed in Toronto February 2018. Commissioned by Fabian
  Arcinegas based on poetry by Jelena Ciric.
   
• “Breathing in the Shadows” Song cycle performed in Toronto, Halifax, Philadelphia
  Winter of 2018. Commissoned by Maureen Batt through Ontario Arts Council.
   
• “Land” film score in 2017 Montreal World Film Festival, August 2017
   
• “Body Answer” and “Smile” for mezzo Soprano and Piano, April 25th 2017 , New
  York, May 7th Toronto
   
• “Rhythmicization” for Windsor Youth Symphony February 18th 2016- Windsor, repeat
  performance by Windsor Symphony Orchestra April 7th 2017
   
• “Concerto for Peace” for String Orchestra/full orchestra , solo soprano, Tar and
  Tombak. Two performances : January 27th Ottawa, 13th Strings, and June 18th Toronto
  Orchestra Toronto- Commissioned with ICOT
   
• “Lullaby on a Cold Winter Night” for String Orchestra, SARV String ensemble,
  Toronto June 12th 2017
   
• “Zaagros” Piano concerto performed in Canadian Opera Company's Richard Bradshaw
  Amphithatre by Glenn Gould School New Music Ensemble, December 13th 2016
   
• “Elegy for the falling leaves” performed in Toronto by Ladom ensemble May 26th 2016
   

• “Feverd Ashes” performed in Toronto, Philadelphia, New York with Maureen Batt, Cheryl Duval as part of “Crossing Boarders: Blurred Relaities” concert series. March- May 2016
   
• “Scherzo” for Solo Guitar at the Canadian Music Centre as part of Class Axe composition workshop. December 17 2015.
   
• “Chaotic Dream” winner of the 15 minutes of fame presented in Vox Novous for Piano solo. New York, October 24 2015 as part of the 15 year Vox Nvous Festival.
   
• “Mingling Leaves” for Piano solo on June 13th at the Canadian Music Centre and August 22nd at the Tirgan 2015 in Toronto.
   
• “Trio in Chaargah” Performed 17 times from January to May of 2015, commissioned by the National Ballet of Canada.
   
• “Overture” and “Postlude” performed by ICOT orchestra and Soprano Zorana Sadiq on December 5th 2014 as part “Secret of Solstice” concert.
   
• “5 Tableux of Khosrow and Shirin Ballet” for the National Ballet of Canada’s YOUdance and Cathedral Bluff Symphony orchestra. May 24th 2014
   
• “3 Quatrains for Men’s Chorus” for the Canadian Men’s chorus, CBC Glenn Gould Studio May 24th 2014.
   
• “When We Fall” for the Canadian Contemporary Music workshop, CCMW April 2013.
   
• “ Variations based on a distracted melody” for Contact Ensemble, June 2013.
   
• “Operatic Narrations of Arash the Archer” as the Opening ceremony of the 2013
  Tirgan Festival. A Collaborative opera with ICOT. July 2013.
   
• University of Toronto New Music Festival 2013 as well as the Toronto Electroacoustic
  Symposium in the Summer of 2013 , Clarinetist Peter Stoll performed “Dialogue in Afshari” for Clarinet Bb solo and tape.
   
• Piano:
   
• Festivals: Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival, Tirgan Festival, Hamilton Philharmonic
  New Music Festival “What Next” 2014, Nuit Blanche 2013, University of
  Toronto New Music Festival 2011.
   
• Ensembles: Toronto Multi-cultural orchestra, Iranian National Orchestra and
  Choir, Toy Piano composers, Gamut Ensemble (Large Ensemble and Chamber) , ICOT Orchestra , Del o jan Choir, Sarv Choir, Blythwood juniors choir, Toronto Metro Big Band, Circle Music band, Claude Watson Concert orchestra, Margaritas Chamber ensemble,
   
• Accompanist for the Del o Jan choir and Blythwood Junior school and Sarv Choir.
   
• Conducting:
   
• Chamber Music Coach at the University Settlement
   
• Tirgan Nowruz Festival Opening concert, 2018
   
• “Tribute to Farhad” at the Richmondhill Centre for the Performing arts, Summer
  2016
   
• Delojan choir coach and accompanist, 2015-17
   

• Northdale Concertband, Winter performance, October 2012.
   
• Gamut Ensemble Conductor in Residence, 2011-12
   
• Professional involvements:
   
• Professional Member of the Canadian League of Composers, CLC.
   
• Professional Member of SOCAN.
   
• Associate Composer with the Canadian Music Centre, CMC.
   
• Executive Manager and co-founder at the Iranian-Canadian Composers of
  Toronto, ICOT.
   
• 2019 Juno Awards Judge- Classical large ensemble section
   
• FACTOR Jury member
   
• Member of Alliance of Canadian New Music (ACNM) board of directors.
   
• Toronto Creative Music lab, TMCL 2018 selection panel.
   
• Invited lecturer at the University of Tehran's Fine Arts faculty, May 2016 and
  May 2018 as Composer as well as Pianist.
   
• Jury member for recording grant at the Ontario Arts Council, January of 2015.
   
• Composition workshops given at Larurier University Faculty of Music (Kitchener
  ON) and Sarv Academy ( Toronto)
   
• Composer in Residence ( as well as Affiliate conductor) for the Northdale Concert
  band, directed by David Bourque in 2011-12.
   
• Assistant conductor for Gamut ensemble in 2011-12.
   
• Awards and Recognitions
   
• 2018 Canada Council for the Arts Travel Grant
   
• 2018 Ontario Arts Council commissioning grant
   
• 2018 Toronto Arts Council Creation Grant
   
• 2017 Ontario Arts Council, Commissioning Grant
   
• 2016 Canada Council for the Arts, Professional Musician grant
   
• 2015 Selected composer Vox Novous festival/Call for scores in New York
   
• 2015, Ontario Arts Council, Chalmers grant for professional development
   
• 2013, 2015 Tirgan Festival, Distinguished artist
   
• 2012 CMC/CLC composer mentorship project award.
   
• 2011 Winner of the Piano Pinnacle call for scores in Vancouver, BC.
   
• 2011 Beach Family scholarship for professional development.
   
• 2009 Kiwanis Gold in both Solo and Chamber composition competition.