Afarin Mansouri is an award-winning composer whose works have been performed in Canada, the United States, England, Iran, and South America. She received Music Creation Grants from the Toronto Arts Council for her children’s operetta To whom shall I give my heart?, based on a Persian story by Nader Ebrahimi in 2014, and her multidisciplinary work Doors, in 2015. Afarin has also appeared as solo soprano, singing new music in Farsi language at Toronto Culture Days 2014, Tirgan Festival 2015 and ICOT’s The Thirtieth Act in 2016.
Currently Afarin is a PhD candidate at York University finishing her research on children’s opera while teaching undergrad courses in music. She has presented her research at the Institute of Musical Research, London, UK (2013), and the 25th annual conference Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association, Baltimore (2014).
Afarin is very active in her community as musician and entrepreneur. She is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto (ICOT), and has curated many seasonal concerts with them since 2011. She is also founder and director of MUSIC NEST, an organization dedicated to educating and inspiring families through musical programs. She is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and board member of North York Arts.
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 Compositions
Whan all is Lost/Onion
Soprano, Tenor and Piano
5 min Created and Performed at Tapestry Lib Lab 2016
Morning Prayers
Tenor and Piano
5 min Created and Performed at Tapestry Lib Lab 2016
Queen of the Swords
Soprano, Baritone and Piano
Ca.5 min Created and Performed at Tapestry Lib Lab 2016
Nowruz Preparation
Soprano and Piano
6 min Performed and Recorded by Ladom Ensemble, Land of Four Seasons 2016
Yeganeye Javedaneh
Soprano and Piano
5 min Performed and Recorded at Tirgan Festival 2015
Universal Love
Soprano and Piano
7 min Performed and Recorded at The 30th Act 2015
Ba To Boodan
Soprano and Piano
7 min Performed and Recorded at The 30th Act 2015
Persian Songs for Children (Album)
Piano and Voice
45 min In progress 2015
Natalis Solis Invicti
Chamber Orchestra
Performed by ICOT (Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto) /
7 min Performed and Recorded in Toronto, Dec 2014
2014
Lament
Solo Clarinet 5 min Performed at CMC
Recorded 2014
My Little Heart
One act musical for children
Produced with the support of the city of Toronto through Toronto Arts Council
30 min Performance Workshop in Culture days 2014
Video recording 2014
Khosro and Shirin
Movement 1: Love At first Sight
For Orchestra
A commissioned ballet work for ICOT, YouDance and Cathedral Blufss Orchestra
2 min Performed May 2014 and Recorded
Spiritual Chant
Mezzo Soprano and Piano 10 min 2013
Aria Hope+ 2 intermezzo
The Operatic Narration of Arash the Archer
Choir and Orchestra/ Musical Drama 10 min Commissioned by Toronto Arts Council and Tirgan Festival 2013
Rain Again Mezzo Soprano and Piano (Children’s Music) 8min 2013
Common Pain Mezzo Soprano and String Quartet
Performed by ICOT (Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto) in New Music New Poetry program 12 min Recorded 2012
Friend Choir and Wind Ensemble
Commissioned work for Windago, conducted by Leah Mc Gray 8 min Recorded 2012
Amad Bahar Choir and Orchestra
Commissioned work for Toronto Iranian National Orchestra for Persian New Year 7min 2012
Abstacts for Piano Solo
Performed by ICOT (Iranian Composers of Toronto) in Persian Piano Night 10 min Recorded 2011
Persian Abstract Violin and piano
Commissioned for Canadian Women Composers program by St Augustine Duo 7 min Recorded 2010
Mohabbat Mezzo Soprano, Baritone, Choir and Orchestra 15 min 2010
Friends Mezzo Soprano, Baritone, Choir and Orchestra 8 min 2010
Panic Attack Wind Ensemble 10 min Reading session Recorded 2010
Reflections on Bartok String Quartet 7 min Reading session Recorded 2009
Qualiche (Little Rug) Trio for Harp, Viola and Flute 6 min Recorded 2009
Chichen Itza/ Amma/ A nice day Electronic 5 min Recorded 2009
His Deepest Dream Percussion Ensemble
Performed by TorQ percussion Ensemble 9 min Recorded 2009
A Fallen Soldier Baritone, Choir and Orchestra
Winner of 2008 Fajr international Music Award , Tehran, Iran 15 min Reading session Recorded 2008
Horse and Fire for 2 Pianos
Winner of 2 by 10 piano duo competition, performed in Canada and US 8 min Recorded 2008
Only Sound Can Remain Electronic and live Soprano
Commissioned and Performance in Toronto Nuit Blanch Festivak 2008 5 min Recorded 2008
Miniature Duet for Dulcimer and Cello 5 min Recorded 2007
An Icy Day For 3 Guitars and Harp 6 min Recorded 2006
Caravan 3 violins, Flute, Clarinet, Percussions and Harp 5 min Recorded 2006
Sound of Water Piano for 4 Hands
Performed by ICOT (Iranian Composers of Toronto) in Persian Piano Night 5 min Recorded 2005
Sorna Trio for Piano, Daf and Flute 7 min 2005
Bewildered Solo French Horn 6 min 2005
Last Minute String Trio 5 min Recorded 2004
Lament Solo Flute 5 min Recorded 2004
