Fereydoun Shahbazian, the iconic Iranian composer and conductor, passed away on Saturday, 22 Dey 1403 (January 11, 2025) at the age of 82, following respiratory complications.
Born on 21 Khordad 1321 (June 11, 1942) in Tehran, Shahbazian was drawn to music through the influence of his father, Hossein Shahbazian, a violinist, orchestra leader, and student of Abolhassan Saba. He began his musical education at the Tehran Conservatory of Music, where he studied the violin. His first violin teacher was Atollah Khadem Misagh, who later introduced him to his Russian instructor, Sergei Khotsif, under whom he completed his early training. Afterward, he pursued further studies under Luigi Passanari, the concertmaster of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra at the time.
At the age of 17, Shahbazian joined the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, directed by Heshmat Sanjari. He then began working with the Golha Radio Orchestra, initially led by Ruhollah Khaleghi and later by Javad Maroufi. In 1345 (1966), he became the conductor of the radio’s choir and symphonic orchestra.
Shahbazian was a graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Tehran University. In the 1980s, he started composing for films and, alongside Ali Maalim Damghani, founded the Music Council at the Iranian National Broadcasting (IRIB), where he played a key role in supporting and overseeing popular music.
From Mehr 1395 to Farvardin 1398 (October 2016 to April 2019), he served as the conductor of the National Orchestra of Iran. After stepping down from his leadership role, Shahbazian was appointed as a musical advisor to the Rudaki Foundation, where he served until his resignation in Ordibehesht 31, 1398 (2019).
