Maziar Heidari
Conductor, Composer
& Educator
BIO
Iranian-Canadian conductor, composer, and pianist Maziar Heidari has significantly impacted Canada's community music scene. A Master of Composition graduate from the Art University of Tehran, Maziar has served as composer, conductor, and pianist with the Iran National Music Orchestra. Relocating to Toronto in 2010, he earned a MMus in Conducting from the University of Toronto and has held prominent conducting positions with Orchestra Toronto, Hart House Orchestra, and the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Maziar's accolades include the Tirgan Festival trophy, an RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant award, and the Canada 150 Medal. As co-founder of the Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto (ICOT) and Music Director, his leadership earned him a position as a judge for the JUNO Awards.
Heidari Music, founded in 2014, is Maziar's Toronto-based music school. As an active freelance educator, Examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music, and member of ORMTA and CFMTA, Maziar is deeply involved in music education. With numerous published compositions and performances in ensembles worldwide, Maziar serves as an associate composer with the Canadian Music Centre, a professional member of SOCAN, and a board member of Orchestra Toronto.
Conducting
Conducting Experience
ICOT Orchestra
(2011 - Present)
Music Director and Conductor
Directed and programmed over 50 new productions, including symphonic music, chamber music, choral compositions, and operas. Highlights include:
"Operatic Narration of Arash, the Archer" Symphony Orchestra and Choir: July 18, 2013
- Co-composed and conducted an original production for the opening ceremony of Tirgan, a major Persian festival in Toronto, featuring five composers, including myself.
- Engaged visual storytelling elements, actors, orchestra, choir, and soprano soloist Kamelia Dara to enhance the performance based on the ancient Iranian hero Arash.
"Secret of Solstice" Concert: December 5th, 2014
- Celebrated the Winter Solstice by composing and performing more than five original compositions alongside four other composers.
- Collaboration featured Canadian soprano Zorana Sadiq and renowned Canadian accordionist Michael Bridge, supported by a chamber orchestra.
"Mozart Symphony 40" Concert: September 24, 2015
- Emphasized educational outreach by conducting a comprehensive talk on the symphony's critical aspects before the performance.
- Invited music students from the University of Toronto and York University to join the orchestra in partnership with North York Arts.
"The Journey: Notes of Hope" Opera: November 2019
- Co-composed and conducted an original 50-minute opera addressing immigration themes, collaborating with four other composers and Canadian writer Banoo Zan.
- Assembled a diverse team of a soprano soloist, Canadian director, light and set designers, and musicians predominantly from immigrant communities.
- Received a grant from the Canada Art Council to support newcomer artists.
"Recurrence" Album Recording with ICOT Chamber Orchestra: May 2023
- Collaborated with four other Canadian composers to create a thematically cohesive album featuring five new works.
- Engaged top Canadian soloists, including the Concert Master of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Montreal Symphony, to elevate the musical experience.
Hart House Orchestra
(2014 - 2016 )
Assistant Conductor, pianist
Led sectionals and some concerts, showcasing a variety of classical and romantic era pieces and collaborated with different soloists. Highlights include:
Performance 1: May 14, 2015
- Led a musically diverse program encompassing both Classical and Romantic eras in a celebration of Spring.
- Collaborated closely with a solo harpist and various composers to enrich the musical experience.
- Encouraged community involvement and music appreciation by initiating a free concert cycle, significantly increasing accessibility and attendance.
Performance 2: May 19, 2016
- Successfully conducted a comprehensive program featuring Mozart's Clarinet Concerto and the overture to "The Barber of Seville," honouring the Classical and Romantic periods.
- Fostered collaboration with a clarinet soloist, further elevating the performance level.
- Continued the tradition of free concerts, inviting musicians predominantly from diverse faculties of the University of Toronto, thereby promoting interdisciplinary involvement and exposure.
Toronto Multicultural Orchestra
(2018 - present)
Conductor and Music Director
"Alireza Ghorbani at Nowruz Festival," March 10th, 2019:
- Orchestrated a culturally resonant concert combining symphonic and choral elements of Persian music to celebrate Nowruz for the Iranian community.
- Engaged audiences with a blend of popular and fresh Persian songs.
- Collaborated with renowned Iranian singer Alireza Ghorbani, providing an authentic cultural experience.
"Peter and the Wolf at Tammuz Festival," Saturday, July 16, 2022:
- Conceived and conducted a concert featuring two distinct pieces: "Toy Symphony" (attributed to Leopold Mozart or Haydn) and "Peter and the Wolf" by Prokofiev.
- Enhanced audience engagement by commissioning 16 original illustrations for a visual narrative of "Peter and the Wolf," conducting a 5-minute educational talk at the concert's start, and leading an interactive group activity to create a storm effect.
- Invited Ariel Balavi, a Canadian storyteller, as the narrator, enriching the storytelling aspect of the concert.
- Used the 5-minute talk as an educational tool, introducing concepts of body percussions and providing historical context to "Toy Symphony."
EUPHONIA Chamber Ensemble
(Fall 2022)
Guest Conductor
"Peter and the Wolf" Performance (Presented by Theatre Direct, RUTAS Festival of International Performance & FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, October 7-9, 2022):
- Led the performance of Sergei Prokofiev's classic "Peter and the Wolf," enhancing the experience with the inclusion of exquisite puppets crafted by Brazilian artist Nina Vogel.
- The unique approach featured a narrator who also operated a puppet, infusing a distinctive visual element into the concert.
- Prioritized educational engagement by conducting extensive question-and-answer sessions following each of the three performances, enriching the learning experience for both children and adults.
Orchestra Toronto
(December 2019)
Guest Conductor
"Piano Concerto Concert," George Weston Recital Hall
- Led the Orchestra Toronto and students from the Li School of Music in a public concert featuring movements from 12 iconic piano concertos from composers including Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Kabalevsky, and Tchaikovsky.
- Successfully filled the recital hall with an enthusiastic audience of parents and supporters, providing a unique opportunity for young talents to perform alongside professional musicians.
- Ensured an enriching concert experience while supporting skilled emerging musicians in their musical journey.
- The concert was specifically designed as an educational program, fulfilling the requirements of the Li School of Music.
Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra
(Winter 2020)
Guest Conductor
"Beethoven's Septet and More," St. Paul's L'Amoreaux Anglican Church (February 8, 2020):
- Conducted the debut of the innovative "Caravan Rhapsody," a new chamber piece by ICOT, at this collaborative concert featuring the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra and Canadian Sinfonietta's chamber music series.
- Also conducted an esteemed piece by Elizabeth Raum, further diversifying the concert repertoire.
- Enhanced the event's cultural significance as the Music Director of ICOT, fostering a rich musical environment.
Iran National Music Orchestra
(1999 - 2009)
Assistant Conductor and Composer-in-Residence
- "Played a multifaceted role in the Iran National Music Orchestra over a decade, making significant contributions in programming, composing, conducting, performing as a pianist, and recruiting musicians.
- Showcased musical excellence and versatility across nearly 200 performances, both domestically and internationally, with performances extending to China, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates.
- Developed an extensive repertoire, promoting Iranian music on a global stage.
Composing
Recent Album:
Arrays For Large Ensemble - String Quintet, Flute, Clarinet/Bass Clarinet, 2 Percussions, Piano
Contact Me
email address
info@maziarheidari.com
phone number
(647) 838 8286
