Online Press Kit

Illustrious Kurdish Kamānche (four-stringed-spiked-fiddle) player, composer and  vocalist Shahriyar Jamshidi with a pronounced cultural background, has devoted his artistic profession to the preservation and transmission of the Kurdish musical heritage. He’s also well-known for his creative and masterful kamānche improvisations, both as a soloist and in ensembles.

Shahriyar is the founder, artist and music director of the Dilan Chamber Ensemble, and co-founder of Kamancello. He is a graduate of Tehran University of Art and a former artist-in-residence at Banff Centre.

He has performed at numerous Iranian music venues including Roudaki Hall and had been invited for interviews and live performances on several radio and TV channels including, Kurdistan TV, The Voice of America Kurdish, and CBC.

Since settling in Canada in 2012, Shahriyar has consistently sought new musical languages, thereby crossing cultures with his Kamānche recitals. He has already performed at International Society for Improvised Music (ISIM), Switzerland and Canada; High-Fest, Armenia; Festival du Monde Arabe de Montréal; Ontario Contact; 33rd World Conference of International Society for Music Education, Azerbaijan; University of Minneapolis School of Music, United State; Cello Biennial, Netherlands; Canadian Opera Company; University of Glasgow, UK; Sound Symposium XXI; and collaborated with Windsor (2019) and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (2024).

Shahriyar’s past releases contain five solo albums – Alvanati, Call of the Mountains, A Yellow Flower, The Lullaby of A Nomad, and My Sunset-Land ROJAVA; as well as Meet Me In Tangier, HiRUDiN, Kamancello, Voyage, and Of Shadows.

In addition, Shahriyar Jamshidi has received awards from Canada Arts Council; International Society for Music Education ISME, Netherlands and Australia; Imagine fund, University of Minneapolis School of Music, the United States; SOCAN Foundation; Toronto Arts Council, and Ontario Arts Council.

RELEASED ALBUMS

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PRESS

“If you are the kind of quiet soul that thrives on new sounds that come from within the new spirit, you may have just have to discover this unique CD.” [Blast Toronto]

“The album, deeply inspired by the ideals of the peoples of Rojava places Kurdish women at the forefront, for the ways in which they have devoted their lives to freedom for Sinjar and Kobanê during the past few years.” [Naz Oak, Kedistan]  

“The sadness of this music reflects the sorrows of Kurds from tortures and massacres,” Jamshidi explained to CM. “Indeed, by this music, I have tried to make a bridge between listeners and the title to awaken listeners’ sympathy.” [Harun Zulic, Canuckistan Music]

“Hikûmeta navendî naxwaze muzîka gelan hebe, ew dixwaze tenê yek muzîka milî hebe. Hikûmetê nedixwest muzîkên neteweyên din hebin. Jixwe, heta deh salan piştî 1978’an muzîk qededexe bû. Îro jî heqê jinan nîne stranan bibêjin.” [Luqman Guldivê, Oz Group Politika]

 

Kurdish Kamanche Player Shahriyar Jamshidi

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