Biography

Roozbeh Tabandeh is an Iranian-Canadian composer, artistic director, and architect. With a Master's degree in architecture, Tabandeh is recognized as an interdisciplinary artist, as well as a conductor, violinist, and Iranian Santur player. He studied music composition at Concordia University under the supervision of Sandeep Bhagwati and Georges Dimitrov. Simultaneously, he developed his violin technique under the mentorship of Clemens Merkel, ear training and sight reading with Christine Beckett, and music history and theory by Liselyn Adams. Before moving to Canada, Tabandeh's artistic journey was greatly enriched by his formative years in Iran, where his musical universe was shaped under the supervision of renowned Iranian musicians and instructors such as Hossein Dehlavi, Kambiz Roshan Ravan, Arsalan Kamkar, Shojaeldin Lashkarloo, Masud Gharib Zadeh, and Masih Mosallai, shaping his skills in music composition and performance. Additionally, he participated in conducting masterclasses led by the former conductor of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, Manuchehr Sahbai.

In March 2019, Tabandeh received the Frederick Lowy Scholars Fellowship, which allowed him to conduct his Ph.D. research-creation project. This endeavour delved into the interplay between music and architecture, specifically exploring the notion of space in Iranian auditory culture, under the supervision of Sandeep Bhagwati at Concordia University in Montreal.

In 2002, Tabandeh established the "Hengam Orchestra" in Shiraz, where he conducted the ensemble for nearly a decade. He founded the "Hengam String Quartet" in 2011, in which he played the first violin for numerous performances and concert tours, presenting Western classical repertoire as well as Iranian art music for several years. In addition, Tabandeh has assumed the role of artistic director for numerous other concerts and performances, both in Canada and Iran.

Tabandeh's compositional style is a convergence of Western Eurological art music and the rich tapestry of Iranian national music. His works transcend boundaries, seamlessly blending elements from diverse musical cultures and artistic disciplines. The profound influence of both Western music and the traditional Iranian heritage pervades his compositions, creating a sound world that echoes the depth of his cross-cultural experiences. He constantly explores solutions to the challenges and issues of composing in a globalized world.

Tabandeh's compositions are performed and recorded by a number of ensembles around the world, including the Orchestre Métropolitain under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Quatuor Bozzini, Ensemble Arkea under the baton of Dina Gilbert, Orchestre Symphonique de l'Isle with Cristian Gort as the conductor, and the Iran String Orchestra under the direction of Manuchehr Sahbai as well as many other concerts that he conducted himself.