SEPAND DADBEH
Sepand is an Iranian multi-instrumentalist, troubadour, artistic director and cultural entrepreneur.
Born in 1992, He grew up in a family of artists and musicians. In 2000, he first took up music with Tombak, moving on to specialize in Oud and Tanbour under the supervision of some of the best musicians in Iran, such as Sohrab Pournazeri and Arsalan Kamkar. At eighteen, Sepand became a member of the “Shams ensemble,” led by maestro Kaykhosrow Pournazeri, while performing alongside great artists such as Sohrab and Tahmoures Pournazeri, Homayoun Shajarian, Alireza Ghorbani, and Antoni Rey.
Academically, Sepand holds a Bachelor of Arts in performing Iranian music from Tehran University and an MMus in World Music at the Codarts University of Rotterdam, where he worked and studied in the field of Maqam music with maestro Kudsi Erguner as his educator.
His musical collective, “Jansouz,” is a tribute to his grandfather, a renowned maestro in Persian music. Since its inception in 2012, the Jansouz Collective has been a platform for creating and performing interdisciplinary forms of music, reflecting the rich Iranian Cultural Civilization in collaboration with international musicians. As a troubadour, Sepand’s vision is to blend the musical self-discipline of ancient musicians with a contemporary understanding of the world.
Sepand has had the privilege of collaborating with countless artists and experts worldwide in the past few years. Each project solidified his dual and concomitant passion for musical performance and cultural entrepreneurship, ultimately guiding his decision to pursue further his education in Cultural Economics and Entrepreneurship at Erasmus University Rotterdam. It is this very desire that, since 2015, has been the driving force behind his pursuit of a cultural organization called “Persiart,” which he founded in Paris and has dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of the arts and cultural advisory. As a director of the organization, he has sought to create a multidisciplinary approach that has enabled the organization to host several delegations to engage in cross-cultural dialogue for the creative and music industries.
2011 – 2015 | Bachelor of Arts (Iranian Music); Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran
2018 – 2020 | Master of Music (World Music); Codarts University of the Arts, Rotterdam
2021 – 2022 | pre-Master of Cultural Economics and Entrepreneurship; Erasmus University Rotterdam
2002 | Tonbak: Arash Farhangfar
2004 | Oud: Yurdal Tokcan, Arsalan Kamkar, Shahram Gholami, Alexandros Papadimitrakis
2006 | Tanbour: Sohrab Pournazeri
2008 | Iranian Art History & Cultural Studies: Aryasp Dadbeh
2010 | Persian Classical Music (Radif): Keykhosro Pournazeri, Dariush Pirniakan, Dariush Talai
2010 | Persian Literature: Dr. Mohammad-Reza Shafiei Kadkani
2011 | Musicology (Theory & Music History): Dr. Human Asaadi, Dr. Sasan Fatemi
2011 | Acoustic: Dr. Khosrow Molana
2012 | Guitar & Arrangement: Dr. Mehrdad Pakbaz
2013 | Harmony: Dr. Shahin Farhat, Dr. Amin Honarmand
2015 | Yarasan Maqam (Tanbour): Donya Kamali
2018 | Modal Classical Music (Makam system): Kudsi Ergüner, Michalis Cholevas
Highlights:
2024 | Oudyssey project, Arab Film Festival, LantarenVenster Rotterdam, NL
2024 | Khosrow & Shirin project, 17th Amiens Archeology Film Festival, FR
2023 | The Fire In Their Eyes exhibition (Oudyssey project), Kunstlinie, Almere, NL
2023 | Night in Neyshabur project by Jansouz Collective, Mezrab, Amsterdam, NL
2023 | Sepand & Khorshid duo by Jansouz Collective, Vrije Geluiden live @Le Guess Who?, Utrecht, NL
2023 | Sepand & Khorshid duo project by Jansouz Collective, Belgium tour
2023 | Sepand & Khorshid duo, 10th European Conference of Iranian Studies ECIS 10, Leiden University, NL
2023 | Sepand & Khorshid duo project by Jansouz Collective, Bluegrass Festival, Rotterdam, NL
2023 | Khosrow & Shirin project by Jansouz Collective, Festival de Musique Sacrée, Perpignan, FR
2023 | Sun & Snow project by Jansouz Collective, Wilde Westen, Utrecht, NL
2022 | Big Idea#2 project, a collaboration of Sasha Waltz & Guests with Bang on a Can All-Stars and 50 young creators, Rotterdam, NL
2022 | Sun & Snow project by Jansouz Collective, New Grounds, Rotterdam, NL
2022 | Khosrow & Shirin, Composition & Oud by Sepand Dadbeh, Guimet Museum, Paris, FR
2022 | Pathfinders project by Jansouz Collective, Volkstheater Mobile Stage, Rotterdam, NL
2022 | Sepand & Khorshid Duo project by Jansouz Collective, Utrecht, NL
2021 | Khosrow & Shirin, Composition & Tanbour by Sepand Dadbeh, Gallery Bourbon, Paris, FR
2021 | Sun & Snow project by Jansouz Collective, Volkstheater Mobile Stage, Rotterdam, NL
2021 | Khosrow & Shirin, Composition & Tanbour by Sepand Dadbeh, Guimet Museum, Paris, FR
2021 | Sun & Snow project by Jansouz Collective, Müziek op de Rott, Rotterdam, NL
2021 | Pathfinders project by Jansouz Collective, Supported by Stichting Droom & Daad, Rotterdam, NL
2021 | Khosrow & Shirin, Composition & Tanbour by Sepand Dadbeh, Radio France Internationale, Paris
2021 | Jansouz Collective, Poets’ Garden, Nowrooz Festival, Rotterdam, NL
2020 |Yalda Night concert series 2020, awarded by Fonds PodiumKunsten NL, Livestream concert for Sufi Night (Sepand & Khorshid Duo by Jansouz Collective) and Troubadour Night (Night in Neyshabur project by Jansouz Collective)
2020 | Jansouz Collective, Matrix, Rotterdam, NL
2020 | Jansouz Ensemble, De Studio Rotterdam, NL
2019 | Yellow House Diversity Concert, Jansouz Ensemble, Rotterdam, NL
2019 | Müziek uit Iran, Jansouz Ensemble, Matrix, Rotterdam, NL
2019 | Müziek op de Rott, Jansouz Ensemble, Rotterdam, NL
2019 | Jansouz Ensemble, International Police Station, Rotterdam, NL
2019 | Tirgan Festival, Beaux-Arts de Paris and Saint Martin de la Place, FR
2019 | Wereld Delfshaven Festival, Jansouz Ensemble, Rotterdam, NL
2019 | Dialogue in the Persian Garden, Amphithéâtre Richelieu, Sorbonne Université, Paris, FR
2019 | Jansouz Ensemble, Nowruz Series Concerts, The Hague, Delft and Rotterdam, NL
2019 | IFFR (International Film Festival Rotterdam), de Doelen Studio, Rotterdam, NL
2018 | Jansouz Ensemble, Yalda Concert, Grounds & Yellow House, Rotterdam, NL
2018 | Dialogue in the Persian Garden (Nowruz and Mehregan), Leiden University, NL
2018 | Le Festival culturel de Tirgan 2018 (Ziryab), Paris, FR
2018 | Jansouz Ensemble, Amphithéâtre Richelieu, Sorbonne Université , Paris, FR
2017 | Jansouz Ensemble,Theatre du Renard, Paris, FR
2016 | Antonio Rey Navas & Sohrab Pournazeri concert, Barana Festival, Niavaran Palace Tehran and Bisotun Palace Kermanshah, Iran
2016 | Shams Ensemble, Barana Festival, Bisotun Palace Kermanshah, Iran
2016 | Shams Ensemble, Barana Festival, Niavaran Palace Tehran, Iran
2016 | Jansouz Ensemble, Negarestan Garden Tehran, Iran
2016 | Antonio Rey Navas & Sohrab Pournazeri , Milad Tower Tehran, Iran
2016 | Shams Ensemble, Composer: Keykhosro Pournazeri, Vahdat Hall Tehran, Iran
2015 | Shams Ensemble, Vocal: Sohrab Pournazeri, Milad Tower Tehran, Iran
2014 | Shams Ensemble, Karafarin Anniversary, Tabriz, Iran
2014 | Shams Ensemble, Tehran Music Festival, Masoudiyeh Palace Tehran, Iran
2014 | Beyond any Form Project, Composer: Tahmoures Pour Nazeri and Vocal: Homayoun Shajarian, Concert Tour Iran in Tehran (Ministry of Interior Hall), Shiraz, Isfahan, Kerman Shah, Kerman, Sari, Rasht, Gorgan, Urmia, Shahr-e Kord, Zanjan, Semnan, Bandar-Abbas, Ahvaz
2014 | Ethno Sweden Festival, Rattvik, Bingsjo, Sweden
2014 | Contemporary Composer Festival, Trio & Duet, Roudaki Hall Tehran, Iran
2013 | Fine Art Orchestra, Vivaldi Mandolin Concerto, Soloist: Sepand Dadbeh, University Of Tehran, Iran
2012 | Fine Art Orchestra, Conductor: Mehrdad Pakbaz, University Of Tehran, Iran
2011 | Fajr Festival,Tehran, Composer: Mehrdad Pakbaz, Niavaran Cultural Center, Iran
2011 | Shams Ensemble lead by Keykhosrow Pournazeri and vocal: Alireza Ghorbani, Vahdat Hall, Tehran, Iran
- WRITING
2024 | Hero’s Journey, Article for Tabl Magazine, Tehran, Iran
2022 | Pre-Master Thesis: Cultural Participation and the Gig Economy Model in the urban live music ecology of Rotterdam, Erasmus University of Rotterdam
2020 | Master Thesis: Ussak Seyir, a Journey into the Heart of Modal Musical Forms, Codarts University of Rotterdam
2015- Present | Tanbour Music Comprehensive Book
2015 | Bachelor Thesis: Study of Iranian Music Schools, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran
- ALBUM
2022 | Night in Neyshabur project by Jansouz Collective; Artistic Director, Author, Composer, Oud and Tanbour by Sepand Dadbeh
2012 | Nava EP Album, Composed by Mehrdad Pakbaz and Sepand Dadbeh
- VIDEO
2023 | Sepand & Khorshid duo by Jansouz Collective, Vrije Geluiden live @Le Guess Who?
2023 | Troubadours by Jansouz Collective & TymoLab production
2022 | Khosrow & Shirin project by Jansouz Collective, Producer & Director: Sepand Dadbeh
2022 | Pathfinders project by Jansouz Collective, Directed by Sepand Dadbeh
2016 | Yalda, Director & Composer: Sepand Dadbeh
2014 | Chera Rafti, Beyond Any Form Project by Tahmoures Pournazeri
2013 | Shams, Composer & Vocal: Sohrab Pournazeri
2021 | Pathfinders project by Jansouz Collective, awarded by Stichting Droom en Daad
2021 | Night in Neyshabur project by Jansouz Collective, awarded by Stichting Droom en Daad
2020 | Yalda Night concert series, awarded by Fonds Podiumkunsten: 1. Night in Neyshabur project by Jansouz Collective for Troubadour Night; 2. Sepand & Khorshid Duo project by Jansouz Collective for Sufi Night
2014 – Now | Oud and Tanbour (A Journey into the Iranian Music Modal System)
2010 – Now | Music Theory & History (Cognitive approach in the practice of Persian Music)
2024 | Music Appreciation of Iranian Cultural Civilisation, cognitive approach in practice workshop, Tehran & Kashan, Iran
2023 | HERO’S JOURNEY: A journey into the Iranian music modal system, Tenth European Conference of Iranian Studies ECIS 10, Leiden University, NL
2023 | Music Appreciation of Iranian Cultural Civilisation, cognitive approach in practice workshop, Museum of Music, Tehran & Isfahan, Iran
2023 | Music Appreciation of Iranian Cultural Civilisation, cognitive approach in practice workshop, Utrecht & The Hague, NL
2017 | Recitation of Myths and a Musical Performance, Iran Deserts Group, Central Iranian desert
2016 | Dialogue in Persian Garden, Joint Conference between the University of Paris-Sud and the University of Tehran, Gardens of Negarestan, University of Tehran
2015 | Tanbour Workshop, Assistant to Sohrab Pournazeri, Music Museum of Iran
2023 | Mahfelfel: co-Founder & director
2020 | Nowrooz Festival: editorial board
2018 | SC/Yellow house Codarts University: executive board member
2016 | Iran Deserts Group: cultural director manager and travel designer
2015 | PersiArt SAS: co-Founder & director
2012 | Jansouz Collective: co-Founder & artistic director
2011 | Shams Ensemble: Tanbour & Oud player