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{{short description|Iranian-American musician}}
{{lead too short|date=June 2010}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{primarysources|date=June 2010}}
⚫ | name = Kourosh Zolani

⚫ | image =
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- For individuals; see Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| Name = Kourosh Zolani | alt =
| Img = Kz3.jpg | caption = Zolani performing music on the santur
| Img_alt = | image_size =
| birth_name =
| Img_capt = Kourosh is performing Santour
| Img_size = | alias =
| Landscape = | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1970}}<ref name="Mesto" />
| Background = Composer | death_date =
| Birth_name = | origin = Iran
| Alias = | instrument = santur
| Born = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | genre = ]
| occupation = Composer; soloist
| Died = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth) -->
⚫ | years_active = 2000–present
| Origin = ], ]
| Instrument = | label =
| associated_acts =
| Genre = ]
⚫ | website = ''''''
⚫ | Occupation =
⚫ | Years_active = 2000–present
⚫ | Label =
| Associated_acts =
⚫ | URL =
| Notable_instruments = ] ]
}} }}
'''Kourosh Zolani''' (born 1970) is an ] composer and instrumental soloist. He is known for designing and playing a ] ].<ref name="multiple2">{{cite news | title=Conversation with Kourosh Zolani about Chromatic Santour | date=1 August 2001| language=Persian |newspaper=Iran Newspaper |url=http://www.iran-newspaper.com/1380/800510/html/art.htm#s37341}}</ref><ref name="multiple1">
{{Citation
| last = Setayeshgar
| first = Mehdi
| title = Santour: a Chromatic Instrument; Creating Altered Notes In Santour with a New Method of Tuning
| journal = The Art of Music
| volume = 4
| issue = 31
| pages = 34–36
| language = Persian
|date=October 2001}}
</ref>
His compositions based on using his unique<ref name="multiple3" /> chromatic ] include ''Memoirs of Sangesar'', ''Dance of Change'' and ''Peaceful Planet''.<ref name="ThinkingOutsideBox">{{cite news | first= Alireza| last=Mir Alinaghi | title=Thinking out of the box: A cultural responsibility | date=8 June 2001| language=Persian |newspaper=Mehr}}</ref><ref>]</ref><ref group="note">Other works include: ''It Used to be Home'', ''Concerto for Santour and Orchestra'', ''With us Forever'', ''Shabnam'', ''Dandelions'', ''Didar'', ''My Childhood Dream'', ''Victory'', ''Snow Queen'', ''Dreams Are Real'', ''Butterflies'' and ''Goodbye Homeland''</ref>


== Personal life ==
Zolani was the youngest of ten children was raised in a poverty-stricken home in the small village of ], ].<ref name="multiple5">{{cite web|url=http://www.iranian.com/main/music/kourosh-zolani|title=Iranian.com|date= |accessdate=2010-08-11}}</ref> From an early age, he had dreamed of being a musician in spite of having to work hard alongside his siblings to make ends meet.<ref name="multiple5" />


Zolani developed a passion for musical expression and learned to play the santour at age 14 and left home as a young adult to pursue his passion at the University of Art in Tehran.<ref name="multiple2" /> He studied classical composition and trained with Master ].<ref name="Mesto">{{cite web|url=http://www.mesto.org/guestArtists/index.shtml |title=MESTO Orchestra Website|publisher=MESTO Orchestra|date= |accessdate=2010-08-11}}</ref>
'''Kourosh''' (Kūruš) '''Zolani''' is an ]ian composer, musician and inventor. Zolani is best known for designing and playing the world's only playable ] ].


== Professional background ==
==Career==
Zolani is known for the development of a new tuning technique for the santour, which is an ancient Iranian instrument. The traditional Iranian santour is a ] instrument, which is relative to playing a piano without the use of the black keys. Zolani enhanced the instrument by creating a ] santour, which essentially allows the use of both black and white keys. Over the history of the Persian santour, unsuccessful attempts had been made to create a chromatic santour, but the enhanced instrument remained in experimental phases, never becoming functional. Zolani's change and enhancement of the santour was an historical first in the presentation and playing capabilities of the instrument. The transformation allowed for more chromatic and complex orchestral versatility.<ref name="multiple2" /><ref name="multiple1" /><ref name="multiple3">{{cite web|url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/press/iranian-music-revolutionary-kourosh-zolani-selects-eileen-koch-for-representation,1280977.html|title=Iranian Music Revolutionary Kourosh Zolani Selects Eileen Koch for Representation|date=4 May 2010|publisher=Earth Times|accessdate=16 August 2010}}</ref>
Kourosh Zolani was raised in ] a small village in ], where music was considered a cultural taboo. Despite this, Zolani developed a passion for musical expression at an early age, and began learning the santur in secret at 14. It quickly became apparent that he was a prodigy. Zolani left home as a young adult to pursue his passion at the University of Art in ]. There, he studied classical composition, and had the privilege of training with the Iran’s preeminent ] player, Master ].


Since 1995, Zolani has performed his original compositions in concerts in Washington, D.C., as well as the ancient Roman city of Jerash in Jordan,<ref name="multiple3" /> featuring his new chromatic santour.<ref name="multiple2" /> He participated as a santour player in ]'s ''Atlantis'' album,<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r706238/credits|pure_url=yes}}|title=Credits: ''Atlantis: A Symphonic Journey''|publisher=]|accessdate=16 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.narada.com/images/AlbumPage/Atlantis/atlantis_page.htm|title=Atlantis; Album Information |publisher=NARADA|date= |accessdate=2010-08-12}}</ref> which received a ] nomination for the Best ] Album of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livedaily.com/news/7420.html |title=Nominee list for the 47th Annual Grammy Awards |publisher=LiveDaily |accessdate=2010-08-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107203242/http://livedaily.com/news/7420.html |archivedate=2010-01-07 }}</ref>
It was during this time that Zolani developed a new tuning technique for the ancient Iranian instrument, which transformed it from its diatonic form to allow for more chromatic versatility, for play in more complex orchestrations. Zolani spent the following years improving upon his invention, designing a family of chromatic santurs that further explored the instrument's timbre and range.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kouroshzolani.com/santour.html#chromatic |title=The Chromatic Santour |publisher=Kourosh Zolani |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref>


In November 2009, Zolani released a collection of his original work, entitled ''Memoirs of Sangesar''.<ref name=multiple4>{{Citation
Upon moving to the U.S., Zolani attended the ] School of Entertainment to study ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kouroshzolani.com/education.html |title=Biography |publisher=Kourosh Zolani |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref> After graduating, he began traveling the world to perform in high-profile concerts everywhere from Washington D.C. to the ancient Roman city of ] in Jordan, while composing original scores for motion pictures on the side. In November 2009, Zolani released a collection of his original work, entitled which received international acclaim. View the music video on
| last = Chaudhary
| first = Raja Singh
| title = Internet Radio Marks the Online Debut of Iranian Musician Kourosh Zolani | url= http://ipcommunications.tmcnet.com/topics/ip-communications/articles/91557-internet-radio-marks-online-debut-iranian-musician-kourosh.htm | date = 12 July 2010 }}
</ref> In 2004, his album, ''Peaceful Planet'' was awarded the Best Solo Instrumental Album of the Year<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpfolks.com/MusicAwards/2004/AlbumWinners.htm|title=Just Plain Folks Music Awards 2004|publisher=Just Plain Folks|date=|accessdate=2010-06-11|archive-date=2013-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823133758/http://www.jpfolks.com/MusicAwards/2004/AlbumWinners.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> in the Just Plain Folks Music Organization's International Contest.<ref>{{Citation |last=Rea-Hunter |first=Casy |title= Just Plain Folks Announces JPF Music Awards Nominees |url= http://futureofmusic.org/blog/2009/06/30/just-plain-folks-announces-jpf-music-awards-nominees |date= 30 June 2009 }}</ref> He has also received The Elaine Weissman Los Angeles Treasures Award from The ] and The California Traditional Music Society.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctmsfolkmusic.org/LATreasures.asp |title=The California Traditional Music Society |publisher=California Traditional Music Society, L.A. Treasures Award Program |accessdate=2010-08-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129074853/http://www.ctmsfolkmusic.org/LATreasures.asp |archivedate=November 29, 2009 }}</ref>


== Discography ==
Today, Zolani aims to bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary music with the introduction of a hybrid sound that blends the exotic and distinctive melodies of the chromatic santur with more conventional and ambient accompaniment.
*2009 ''Memoirs of Sangesar''
*2003 ''Peaceful Planet''


==Biography== == References ==
⚫ {{Reflist}}
Kourosh Zolani was born in a small village in Iran. He does not come from a background that encouraged him to become a musician; indeed, he comes from a small town where music is not a part of everyday life and is, in general, considered taboo. He began his musical training with the Santour relatively late in life, at the age of 14. Remarkably, within two years, he started to teach the instrument and began to compose original musical works. To pursue his newfound passion, Kourosh would have to leave his hometown, and thus after high school, he went to Tehran to continue studying the Santour under Master Faramarz Payvar, the most famous Santour player in Persian music history.
In 1998, Koroush received his Bachelor of Arts in Musical Composition from the distinguished University of Art in Tehran and moved to the U.S. in 2002. He graduated from the Film Scoring program at the UCLA School of Entertainment in spring of 2007. During his time at the University of Art, he invented a new method of tuning the Santour that revolutionized the ancient instrument by transforming it from an exclusively diatonic instrument to a chromatic one - in essence, allowing the Santour to participate in more complex music. Finally Kourosh evolved his invention to the new levels designing a family of Chromatic Santours, which further expand the instrument’s realms of timbre and range.
Kourosh is the first musician to perform on the Chromatic Santour with a symphony orchestra, performing his original scores at venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and in the Roman city of Jerash in Jordan. Beside composing and performing, Kourosh has always been an instructor. He has appeared as a guest lecturer at UCLA, California State University Long Beach, Pomona college, and several other notable colleges and universities. Kourosh has received numerous awards for his performances and compositions. In December 2004, Kourosh received the L.A. Treasures Award from the California Traditional Music Society and the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department. In Spring 2003, he was selected as a member of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission's Musicians Roster. Kourosh also became one of the 2003 Finalists in the USA Song Writing Competition, in the World Music Category. Also, “Peaceful Planet” was awarded the Best Solo Instrumental Album of the Year, in a competition that consisted of over 10,000 albums from 85 countries, in the Just Plain Folks International Contest of 2004. In November 2009, Zolani released a collection of his original work, entitled “Memoirs of Sangesar,” which received international acclaim.


==Discography== == Footnotes ==
* Link to the of the article “Conversation with Kourosh Zolani about Chromatic Santour" in Iran Newspaper. Link to the article .
*2009 ]]
*2003


<references group="note" />
==Awards and recognitions==
* L.A. Treasures Award – and the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lacountyarts.org/musicians_roster_z.html |title=LA County Arts Commission - Public and Special Events |publisher=Lacountyarts.org |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref> 2004
* Best Solo Instrumental Album of the Year – , (selected among 10,000 CDs spanning 85 countries), Just Plain Folks International Contest, 2004 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpfolks.com/MusicAwards/2004/performerbio.htm#kouroshzolani |title=Just Plain Folks Music Awards 2004 Performer Bios |publisher=Jpfolks.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref>
* 2003 Finalist –
* Winner at Call to Arts Festival, Category of Aesthetics and Harmony for Peaceful Planet CD, 2003 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://kouroshzolani.com/awards_recog.html |title=Biography |publisher=Kourosh Zolani |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref>


== External links ==
==References==
*
⚫ {{Reflist}}
*


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zolani, Kourosh}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Zolani, Kourosh}}
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Latest revision as of 01:11, 9 November 2024

Iranian-American musician
Kourosh Zolani
Born1970 (age 54–55)
OriginIran
GenresContemporary world
Occupation(s)Composer; soloist
Instrumentsantur
Years active2000–present
WebsiteOfficial Website
Musical artist

Kourosh Zolani (born 1970) is an Iranian-American composer and instrumental soloist. He is known for designing and playing a chromatic santour. His compositions based on using his unique chromatic Santour include Memoirs of Sangesar, Dance of Change and Peaceful Planet.

Personal life

Zolani was the youngest of ten children was raised in a poverty-stricken home in the small village of Sangesar, Iran. From an early age, he had dreamed of being a musician in spite of having to work hard alongside his siblings to make ends meet.

Zolani developed a passion for musical expression and learned to play the santour at age 14 and left home as a young adult to pursue his passion at the University of Art in Tehran. He studied classical composition and trained with Master Farāmarz Pāyvar.

Professional background

Zolani is known for the development of a new tuning technique for the santour, which is an ancient Iranian instrument. The traditional Iranian santour is a diatonic instrument, which is relative to playing a piano without the use of the black keys. Zolani enhanced the instrument by creating a chromatic santour, which essentially allows the use of both black and white keys. Over the history of the Persian santour, unsuccessful attempts had been made to create a chromatic santour, but the enhanced instrument remained in experimental phases, never becoming functional. Zolani's change and enhancement of the santour was an historical first in the presentation and playing capabilities of the instrument. The transformation allowed for more chromatic and complex orchestral versatility.

Since 1995, Zolani has performed his original compositions in concerts in Washington, D.C., as well as the ancient Roman city of Jerash in Jordan, featuring his new chromatic santour. He participated as a santour player in David Arkenstone's Atlantis album, which received a Grammy Award nomination for the Best New Age Album of the Year.

In November 2009, Zolani released a collection of his original work, entitled Memoirs of Sangesar. In 2004, his album, Peaceful Planet was awarded the Best Solo Instrumental Album of the Year in the Just Plain Folks Music Organization's International Contest. He has also received The Elaine Weissman Los Angeles Treasures Award from The City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and The California Traditional Music Society.

Discography

  • 2009 Memoirs of Sangesar
  • 2003 Peaceful Planet

References

  1. ^ "MESTO Orchestra Website". MESTO Orchestra. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
  2. ^ "Conversation with Kourosh Zolani about Chromatic Santour". Iran Newspaper (in Persian). 1 August 2001.
  3. ^ Setayeshgar, Mehdi (October 2001), "Santour: a Chromatic Instrument; Creating Altered Notes In Santour with a New Method of Tuning", The Art of Music (in Persian), 4 (31): 34–36
  4. ^ "Iranian Music Revolutionary Kourosh Zolani Selects Eileen Koch for Representation". Earth Times. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  5. Mir Alinaghi, Alireza (8 June 2001). "Thinking out of the box: A cultural responsibility". Mehr (in Persian).
  6. Thinking out of the box: A cultural responsibility (English translation)
  7. ^ "Iranian.com". Retrieved 2010-08-11.
  8. "Credits: Atlantis: A Symphonic Journey". Allmusic. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  9. "Atlantis; Album Information". NARADA. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
  10. "Nominee list for the 47th Annual Grammy Awards". LiveDaily. Archived from the original on 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
  11. Chaudhary, Raja Singh (12 July 2010), Internet Radio Marks the Online Debut of Iranian Musician Kourosh Zolani
  12. "Just Plain Folks Music Awards 2004". Just Plain Folks. Archived from the original on 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  13. Rea-Hunter, Casy (30 June 2009), Just Plain Folks Announces JPF Music Awards Nominees
  14. "The California Traditional Music Society". California Traditional Music Society, L.A. Treasures Award Program. Archived from the original on November 29, 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-11.

Footnotes

  • Link to the English translation of the article “Conversation with Kourosh Zolani about Chromatic Santour" in Iran Newspaper. Link to the article in Persian.
  1. Other works include: It Used to be Home, Concerto for Santour and Orchestra, With us Forever, Shabnam, Dandelions, Didar, My Childhood Dream, Victory, Snow Queen, Dreams Are Real, Butterflies and Goodbye Homeland

External links

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