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About ICOT

ICOT is a non-profit art organisation founded by five Toronto-based composers and musicians in 2011 with the mission of creating new works that bridge Canadian and Iranian culture through music and art. ICOT has produced over 60 new works since its inception, and has curated or has been involved as featured artists over 35 concerts.


ICOT's current members  are Maziar Heidari (Music Director), Keyan Emami (Artistic Director), and Saman Shahi (Executive Director).  The two former members and co-founders were Afarin Mansouri and Pouya Hamidi.


ICOT's catalogue of productions include 2 operas (Operatic Narrations of Arash the Archer, The Journey: Notes of Hope), 2 ballets (5 Tableaux from Khosrow and Shirin, Trio in Chaargah), 12 orchestral works (Secret of Solstice, Recall The Eden), dozens of chamber works and vocal works, as well as three call for scores that allowed ICOT to collaborate with over 20 composers from 8 different countries.


ICOT has received commissions from the National Ballet of Canada, Soundstreams, Tirgan Festival, Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Toronto, 13 Strings, and has been featured in Ottawa Chamberfest, Toronto Symphony's 150th Open Hourse, Hamilton Philharmonic's What next Music Festival, Nuit Blanche Festival, Canadian Music Centre's 2017 Season as well as LADOM Ensemble's 2017 Debut Atlantic's Eastern Canada tour.  In addition to the aforementioned groups ICOT's music has been performed by Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, Symphony on the Bay and Ton Beau String Quartet. 


ICOT's subsidiary ensemble, ICOT orchestra has also been featured in the Arash the Archer production, Secret of Solstice as well as the Journey:  Notes of Hope Production. 


ICOT's first commercial recording "Persian Piano Night" was released in 2018 by Pardis Records, and is available worldwide both digital and physical form. ICOT Chamber Orchestra will also be releasing its first commercial recording, "Recurrence" in 2023. 


ICOT has received several grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council for its various productions, projects and performances.

Members

Maziar Heidari, Music Director

Saman Shahi, Executive Director

Maziar Heidari, Music Director

Canadian conductor, composer, educator and pianist Maziar Heidari led a flourishing musical career in Iran for over a decade before moving to Toronto in 2009. Maziar obtained a MMus in Conducting from the University of Toronto and has since held several conducting positions, including with Orchestra Toronto, Hart House Orchestra, and the 

Canadian conductor, composer, educator and pianist Maziar Heidari led a flourishing musical career in Iran for over a decade before moving to Toronto in 2009. Maziar obtained a MMus in Conducting from the University of Toronto and has since held several conducting positions, including with Orchestra Toronto, Hart House Orchestra, and the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra. In 2017 alone, his work as Music Director of ICOT earned him an RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant award and a position as a juror for the JUNO Awards. An active freelance educator for students of all levels, Maziar founded Heidari Music School, works as a member of the college of examiners for the Royal Conservatory of Music, and is a member of several music teacher associations. Maziar is an associate composer with the Canadian Music Centre and a professional member of SOCAN. www.heidarimusic.com

Keyan Emami, Artistic Director

Saman Shahi, Executive Director

Maziar Heidari, Music Director

Keyan Emami is an award-winning composer and educator. Emami’s music is known for its contemporary tonal language and innovative sonic texture, frequently inspired by Persian music and art heritage. His works have been commissioned, performed, and recorded all over the world by many different organizations, festivals, and orchestras such 

Keyan Emami is an award-winning composer and educator. Emami’s music is known for its contemporary tonal language and innovative sonic texture, frequently inspired by Persian music and art heritage. His works have been commissioned, performed, and recorded all over the world by many different organizations, festivals, and orchestras such as National Ballet of Canada, What Next Festival of New Music, Nuit Blanche Toronto, Aga Khan Museum, Tirgan Festival, Canadian Music Centre, Ton Beau String Quartet, Ladom Ensemble, Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Toronto. Emami is the artistic director, co-founder, and one of the composers of ICOT. He is also the director of Key Music Studio. Based in Toronto, Emami holds a doctorate in composition from the University of Toronto. www.keyan.ca

Saman Shahi, Executive Director

Saman Shahi, Executive Director

Saman Shahi, Executive Director

Saman Shahi is an award-winning and published composer, pianist, conductor and educator based in Toronto. His compositions have been performed around the globe and include six orchestral works, three operas, two ballets works, and many works for choral, vocal and chamber forces. Saman holds a master's degree in composition from the Univer

Saman Shahi is an award-winning and published composer, pianist, conductor and educator based in Toronto. His compositions have been performed around the globe and include six orchestral works, three operas, two ballets works, and many works for choral, vocal and chamber forces. Saman holds a master's degree in composition from the University of Toronto, is an affiliate Member of the Canadian League of Composers, Associate Composer at the Canadian Music Centre as well as a SOCAN member. He is a co-founder and the Executive Director at ICOT, Music Director at the Peterborough Concert band, and a composer and teaching artist with the Canadian Opera Company. In 2020 Saman's debut composition album "Breathing in the Shadows" was recorded and released by Leaf Music. His second album, “Microlocking” was released by People|Places|Records in 2021.  www.samanshahimusi.com


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