Bio / CV
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Mahbod Shirvani (born 1997) is an Iranian multimedia composer and tar player based in the United States. He holds a BM in Persian music performance from the University of Tehran and an MM in Composition from the University of Missouri, and is currently pursuing a DMA in Composition at The Ohio State University.
He has participated in international masterclasses and seminars with composers such as Ken Ueno, George Lewis, Chaya Czernowin, Katharina Rosenberger, Marco Stroppa, Joachim Heintz and Fanis Gioles. In Iran, Mahbod worked extensively as a performer, composer and creator of music for theatre and film. He has released works and albums, participated in international festivals, and collaborated with various ensembles and orchestras, including Alarm Will Sound and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
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Education
The Ohio State University — DMA, Composition2024–2028University of Missouri — Master of Music, Composition2022–2024University of Tehran — Bachelor of Music, Persian Music PerformanceThesis: a concert of improvisation based on the radif2016–2021Awards & Honors
Resonant Ornament — Selected, SEAMUS National Conference (UT San Antonio)2026Graduate Research Grant, The Ohio State University2026School of Music Grant, The Ohio State University2025Graduate University Fellowship, The Ohio State University2024Selected Composer, Mizzou International Composers Festival2024St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Commission2023The Unconsciousness Hall — Second Prize, International Reza Korourian Award2022Woeful — Selected Composer, International Petrichor Award2021Pierce Sisters — First Prize (Best Composer), Tehran Mobarak International Puppet Theatre Festival2019Selected Commissions
Faqan — for Taceti2026Wordless Wail — for Hypercube2025Asthenia Lullaby — for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra2024Sounds for Nothing — for Alarm Will Sound2024Demented — solo violin, for Erin Schreiber (Assoc. Concertmaster, SLSO)2022Affliction — for ASEMAN Duo (santur and tar)2021Selected Performances
Palimpsest Frames for electronics — Cube Fest, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA2026Palimpsest Frames for electronics — CLICK Fest, Ohio University Athens, OH2026Resonant Ornament for violin and electronics — SEAMUS International Conference San Antonio, TX2026Faqan for ensemble — for Taceti, The Ohio State University Columbus, OH2026OpenHouse ACCAD 2026 — for tar and visuals Columbus, OH2026Wordless Wail for ensemble — for Hypercube, The Ohio State University Columbus, OH2025OpenHouse ACCAD 2025 — for face and visuals Columbus, OH2025Sounds for Nothing for large ensemble — for Alarm Will Sound, MICF Festival Columbia, MO2024Asthenia Lullaby for orchestra — for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra St. Louis, MO2024Mrs Smith’s Dream Is Being Sampled for ensemble — for Mizzou New Music Ensemble Columbia, MO2023Huginn for string quartet — University of Missouri Columbia, MO2023Improvisation in Abu-Atā — Avini Hall Tehran2020Karaj Persian Orchestra — Karaj Shohada Hall Karaj2017Discography
Vision of Darkness — compilation, Unexplained Sounds Group2023YARAVA — festival winners compilation CD202221.4 — compilation, Noise a Noise Records2022Music for Theatre, Film & Performance
There Will Be Blood — theatre, dir. Vesal Javaheri2019Inertia — short film, dir. Shayan Habibi2019Pearce Sisters — micro-theatre, co-composer, dir. Hanie Darvishian2019Dreamland — theatre, dir. Morteza Jalilidoost2018The Goat — environmental performance, co-composer, dir. Naser Haghkhah2018Teaching
Graduate Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State UniversityIntro to Computer Technology & Music; Composition2024–Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of MissouriSongwriting & Beat-Making; MICF production; Summer Composition Institute2022–2024Instructor — Contemporary Music Institute (Karaj) & Baran Music Institute (Tehran)Tar and setar, music theory, harmony2017–2021Instructor, Music History & Theory — Karaj Art School2019–2021Principal Teachers
Composition Tina Tallon, Stefan Freund, Karen Keyhani, Siamak Aghaei.
Tar & Setar Dariush Talaei, Dariush Pirniakan, Babak Rahati, Ghasem Rahimzadeh, Matin Peymani.
Electronic Music Madjid Tahrir, Utku Asuroglu.
Harmony & Counterpoint Sara Abazari, Amin Honarmand, Sasan Mohebi.
Theory & Persian Music Theory Sohrab Kashef, Yasaman Kimiavi, Azin Movahed, Houman Asadi, Siamak Jahangiri, Reza Parvizadeh.
Workshops & Master Classes (2019–2026)
Master Classes Ken Ueno, Nina C. Young, Chaya Czernowin, Don Freund, Marco Stroppa.
Private Lessons George Lewis, Katharina Rosenberger, Reza Vali, Dimitri Papageorgiou.
Workshops Joachim Heintz, Fanis Gioles.
Lectures Caspar Johannes Walter, Arsalan Abedian, Arvin Sedaghatkish, Eduardo Valiente, Bengisu Önder, Andreas Papakostas Smyris, Oscar Pablo Di Liscia.
Seminars Orm Finnendahl, Esther Lamneck.
Skills & Software
Languages Farsi (native), English (proficient), French (intermediate).
Software Python, ChucK, Max/MSP, Ableton Live, Cubase, Unity, TouchDesigner, Maya, Photoshop, Premiere, Final Cut.