English Bio
An internationally recognized composer, producer and opera artist, Dr Afarin Mansouri’s unique and dynamic style connects her Iranian roots with her Western aesthetic and training. Afarin is the recipient of many awards & accolades for her contributions to the Canadian music and operatic scene including the Canada 150 Medal, the Kathleen McMorrow Music Award, and a nomination for the Louise Applebaum Composition Award. She has been featured in a variety of publications, including The Globe & Mail, BBC World and Opera Canada. Throughout her career, Afarin has collaborated with many organizations and festivals across North America including: Toronto Symphony Orchestra, You Dance National Ballet of Canada, Tapestry Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Loose Tea Music Theatre, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Seattle Opera, , Queen’s University, Wilfrid Laurier University, Tirgan Festival and Toronto Nuit Blanche.
Afarin’s orchestral prelude, Mithra, the goddess of love and justice, was commissioned and performed by Toronto Symphony Orchestra for their 100th anniversary celebrations in 2022 and immediately became a symbol for the global Women, Life, Freedom movement, representing the voice of all women across the Middle East.
Her Cantata Humans Arise! which was performed and recorded by Prague Metropolitan Orchestra was broadcast by CBC Radio and Radio Farda to support the Iranian women’s right movement 2022. This piece was selected by CBC program BIG CITY as part of best 2022 shows.
Since 2016, Afarin’s compositional focus has been towards the creation of innovative operas. Her approach to opera creates a unique cross-cultural experience for artists and audiences to connect with Eastern cultures, through language, poetry, storytelling, traditional instruments and more:
Her spiritual Farsi opera, Zuleykha, was produced by Loose Tea Theatre and performed at Toronto Summer Music Festival in 2022. Zuleykha combines Eastern mysticism, symbolism and music within a traditional operatic style; During the 2022 pandemic, her first digital
opera, AITCH ARR was produced in collaboration with Queen’s University, and she self- produced her first audio opera, Little Heart which Opera Canada called “a sweet adventure into cross-cultural storytelling with sound”. In 2018, Afarin composed ‘Saffronic’ as part of the stage production The Journey, Notes of Hope. Opera Canada called Saffronic “Powerful. The most memorable highlights of the opera.” Her 2018 opera “Forbidden” gained national and international attention when it was featured in BBC World, and was featured in the BBC Farsi documentary series, Tamasha.
Her passion for opera and serving the community has led Afarin to found Cultureland Opera Collective, an organization with a mission to produce operas with cross-cultural elements in language, drama, music and design. Amplifying underrepresented and marginalized
voices, Cultureland Opera Collective provides a platform for emerging artists to develop their skills, collaborate with experts and showcase their artistic talents. An opera advocator, Afarin is the first Iranian woman who gave lectures about opera in Farsi language at Canadian Opera Company to make opera more accessible to diverse communities. In 2022, her operatic compositions were premiered at the Four Season Centre for the Arts as part of the Celebrating Asian Heritage Month with the Canadian Opera Company.
As an academic researcher, Afarin’s PhD dissertation explores the history of children's opera and how opera affects the development of children’s intellectual skills. As part of her PhD, she developed and published a step-by-step guide for educators interested in developing opera’s with young or amateur participants: (https://yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/xmlui/handle/10315/38324) She has presented lectures, papers and workshops for various institutions including Wilfrid Laurier University, Queen’s University, Canadian Opera Company and Young People’s Theatre. Her workshops cover a holistic approach to creation, with emphasis on the role of emotion during the creative process, soundscape, music intelligence, mystical music, opera history, and composition. In 2014 Afarin also founded Music Nest Academy, where she combines storytelling and singing in her piano teachings.
As a mezzo soprano, Afarin has collaborated with Watershed Festival, Toronto Culture Days, Tirgan Festival and Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto (ICOT). She is currently working on producing her first vocal album "Dancing With Love" , including 12 love songs based on poetry of prominent Eastern Mystic Masters. The album is in collaboration with Thin Edge Music Collective.
As an advocate for social and artist equity, she has served as a member of the Canadian Opera Company's DEI committee, the councilor of Canadian League of Composers, as well as the co-founder and past artistic director of Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto (ICOT).
French Bio
Lauréate de différents prix, Afarin Mansouri est une compositrice dont les œuvres ont été interprétées au Canada et à l’étranger (États-Unis, Angleterre, Iran et Amérique du Sud). Elle a reçu une bourse de création musicale du Conseil des arts de Toronto pour son opérette pour enfants To whom shall I give my heart? inspirée d’un récit de Nader Ebrahimi en 2014, et pour sa composition multidisciplinaire Doors en 2015. Afarin s’est également produite comme soprano, chantant en farsi aux Toronto Culture Days (2014), au Tirgan Festival (2015) et dans The Thirtieth Act produit par l’Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto (ICOT) en 2016.
Afarin poursuit actuellement des études doctorales à l’Université York où elle termine des travaux de recherche sur l’opéra pour enfants en plus d’enseigner au premier cycle. Elle a présenté ses travaux à l’Institute of Musical Research à Londres (2013) et dans le cadre de la 25e conférence annuelle Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association à Baltimore (2014).
Afarin est très impliquée dans sa communauté, à la fois comme musicienne et entrepreneure. Cofondatrice et directrice artistique de l’Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto (ICOT) dont elle a coordonné la programmation pendant plusieurs saisons depuis 2011, elle a également fondé et dirige MUSIC NEST, un organisme qui se consacre à l’éducation et la promotion des familles à l’aide de programmes musicaux. Elle est compositrice agréée du Centre de musique canadienne et membre du conseil de North York Arts.
List of Works
When all is Lost/Onion (2016) — Soprano, Tenor and Piano (5 min)
Created and Performed at Tapestry Lib Lab
Morning Prayers (2016) — Tenor and Piano (5 min)
Created and Performed at Tapestry Lib Lab
Queen of the Swords (2016) — Soprano, Baritone and Piano (Ca.5 min)
Created and Performed at Tapestry Lib Lab
Nowruz Preparation (2016) — Soprano and Piano (6 min)
Performed and Recorded by Ladom Ensemble, Land of Four Seasons
Yeganeye Javedaneh — Soprano and Piano (5 min)
Performed and Recorded at Tirgan Festival
Universal Love (2015) — Soprano and Piano (7 min).
Performed and Recorded at The 30th Act
Ba To Boodan (2015) — Soprano and Piano (7 min)
Performed and Recorded at The 30th Act
Persian Songs for Children (Album) (2015) — Piano and Voice (45 min) in progress
Natalis Solis Invicti (2014) — Chamber Orchestra (7 min)
Performed by ICOT (Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto) / Performed and Recorded in Toronto, Dec 2014
Lament (2014) — Solo Clarinet (5 min). Performed at CMC.
My Little Heart (2014) — One act musical for children (30 min)
Produced with the support of the city of Toronto through Toronto Arts Council Performance Workshop in Culture days
Khosro and Shirin: Movement 1 - Love At first Sight (2014) — Orchestra (2 min)
A commissioned ballet work for ICOT, YouDance and Cathedral Blufss Orchestra. Performed May 2014 and Recorded
Spiritual Chant (2013) — Mezzo Soprano and Piano (10 min)
Aria Hope (2013) — 2 intermezzo (10 min)
The Operatic Narration of Arash the Archer. Choir and Orchestra/ Musical Drama. Commissioned by Toronto Arts Council and Tirgan Festival
Rain Again (2013) — Mezzo Soprano and Piano (Children’s Music) (8 min)
Common Pain (2012) — Mezzo Soprano and String Quartet (12 min)
Performed by ICOT (Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto) in New Music New Poetry program
Friend (2012) — Choir and Wind Ensemble (8 min)
Commissioned work for Windago, conducted by Leah Mc Gray
Amad Bahar (2012) — Choir and Orchestra (7 min)
Commissioned work for Toronto Iranian National Orchestra for Persian New Year
Abstacts (2011) — for Piano Solo (10 min)
Performed by ICOT (Iranian Composers of Toronto) in Persian Piano Night
Persian Abstract (2010) — Violin and piano (7 min)
Commissioned for Canadian Women Composers program by St Augustine Duo
Mohabbat (2010) — Mezzo Soprano, Baritone, Choir and Orchestra (15 min)
Friends (2010) — Mezzo Soprano, Baritone, Choir and Orchestra (8 min)
Panic Attack (2010) — Wind Ensemble (10 min). Reading session Recorded
Reflections on Bartok (2009) — String Quartet (7 min). Reading session Recorded
Qualiche (Little Rug) (2009) — Trio for Harp, Viola and Flute (6 min)
Chichen Itza/ Amma/ A nice day (2009) — Electronic (5 min)
His Deepest Dream (2009)— Percussion Ensemble (9 min)
Performed by TorQ percussion Ensemble
A Fallen Soldier (2008) — Baritone, Choir and Orchestra (15 min)
Winner of 2008 Fajr international Music Award , Tehran, Iran. Reading session Recorded.
Horse and Fire (2008) — for 2 Pianos (8 min)
Winner of 2 by 10 piano duo competition, performed in Canada and US
Only Sound Can Remain (2008)— Electronic and live Soprano (5 min)
Commissioned and Performance in Toronto Nuit Blanch Festivak
Miniature (2007)— Duet for Dulcimer and Cello (5 min)
An Icy Day (2006) — For 3 Guitars and Harp (6 min)
Caravan (2006)— 3 violins, Flute, Clarinet, Percussions and Harp (5 min)
Sound of Water (2005) — Piano for 4 Hands, (5 min)
Performed by ICOT (Iranian Composers of Toronto) in Persian Piano Night
Sorna (2005) — Trio for Piano, Daf and Flute (7 min)
Bewildered (2005) — Solo French Horn (6 min)
Last Minute (2004) — String Trio (5 min)
Lament (2004)— Solo Flute (5 min)