BIOGRAPHY

Fantasia On One Note immediately appealed to me for its simplicity, clarity, and effective piano writing. It was obviously a work by a talented composer who was not afraid not show his own voice. 

Peter Jablonski, classical pianist, 2022

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Farhad Poupel’s music immediately captures the audience’s attention. Whether ethereal or intense, the harmonies and melodies are fused with love, passion, and colorful sonic landscape. 

Jeffrey Biegel, classical pianist, 2020

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Poupel is knowledgeable, highly competent and a serious musical thinker. It will be rewarding to follow his progress. 

Simon Mundy, International Festival Review, 2019

 

Farhad Poupel is a UK-based Iranian composer whose works are frequently performed internationally by today's leading musicians and prestigious ensembles, including performances by the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.; and at the National Opera in Warsaw, Poland. His music has been featured in many other prominent venues and festivals worldwide, including Arlene Schnitzer Hall in Portland, USA; Cincinnati Music Hall in Ohio, USA; Minnesota Orchestra Hall in Minnesota, USA; Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Japan; Sage Gateshead in Newcastle, UK; Smith Square Hall in London, UK; La Roque-d’Anthéron Piano Festival, France; Biarritz Festival, France; Janacek Academy of Music and Performing Art in Brno, Czech Republic; Karlskrona International Piano Festival, Sweden; Capitol Theatre of Windsor in Canada; and Roudaki Hall in Tehran, Iran. Renowned artists and ensembles such as Peter Jablonski, Kotaro Fukuma, Jeffrey Biegel, Margaret Fingerhut, National Symphony Orchestra (Washington), Key Chorale, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, Cincinnati Symphony's Youth Orchestra, National Orchestra of Iran, and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra have performed his works. His compositions have also been featured in collaborations with writer William Nicholson and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 In Tune (UK) and NPR Radio 4 (Netherlands).  He is now the composer-in-residence of the Mithra orchestra in Tehran, creating a series of arrangements/compositions based on Shahnameh (The Book of the Kings).

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The critical acclaim which his music continues to receive worldwide led to commissions such as Road to Bach for solo piano by Kotaro Fukuma, The Legend of Bijan and Manijeh for piano, choir, and orchestra by Windsor Symphony Orchestra and Jeffrey Biegel, Fantasia on Themes from Verdi's Simon Boccenegra for solo piano by Peter Jablonski, Quartet for The Beginning of Time for Clarinet, Violin, Cello and Piano for Paddock Wood Proms in the UK, Dance of the Blossoms for Santur and string Orchestra by Portland Youth Philharmonic, and Dance of the Butterfly and Flame for violin and piano by Margaret Fingerhut and Bradley Creswick.

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In his creative work, Poupel is inspired by stories from literary masterpieces from around the world (including the Persian epic The Book of the Kings and Greek myths), poetry, art, mythology, and cinema. As a composer, he aims to expand on and continue with Sibelius’s and Brahms's organic use of form and thematic relationships, and is drawn to Ravel’s piano writing. He is also drawn to a sense of narrative in music, particularly inspired by Shostakovich's 11th Symphony and influenced by narrative form in other arts, such as cinema and literature. In his compositions, these multi-faceted influences manifest in a coherent, personal, and sincere language that transcends cultural boundaries and has both intellectual and emotional appeal for audiences. 

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Poupel was born in Isfahan, Iran, where he began his musical education by studying the Persian Dulcimer (santur) and piano. The great Iranian composer Saeed Sharifian mentored him in harmony, counterpoint, and composition. In 2019, he made his international professional debut with Zayande-Rud for string orchestra, performed by the Windsor Symphony Orchestra in Canada. His music has been in demand internationally ever since.

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Farhad Poupel holds the prestigious Global Talent visa, which allows him to collaborate with an international community of musicians on a range of composition projects.

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Upcoming performances/residencies of his music include ​

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• Residency with Mithra Orchestra 2025-2028

• Childhood memories, for orchestra,  by Mithra Youth Orchestra, December 2025

• ​​​​Orpheus: Symphonic Variations on Themes by Beethoven, for orchestra, by West Valley Symphony Orchestra, January 2026

• Laughter of Gordafarid, for narrator and piano by Margaret Fingerhut, Jan 2026

• Demonic Waltz, for piano trio by Bradley Creswick, Guy Johnston, Margaret Fingerhut, Jan 2026

• ​World premiere of Ode To Childhood, for orchestra, by Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, February 2026 and subsequent premieres in May 2026.

• String orchestra arrangement Laughter of Gordafarid, for narrator and string orchestra by Mithra Orchestra, March 2026

• ​Orpheus: Symphonic Variations on Themes by Beethoven, for orchestra by Salisbury Symphony Orchestra, May 2026

• World premiere of Foroud, Overture for a Fallen Hero, for orchestra, by Gulf Coast Symphony, Autumn 2026

• ​Michigan premiere of Ode To Childhood, for orchestra by Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, November 2026

• The Legend of Sohrab and Rostam for choir and orchestra, by Key Chorale, February 2027

• Foroud, Overture for a Fallen Hero, for orchestra, by Key Chorale, February 2027

• The Legend of Bijan and Manijeh, for piano, choir and orchestra, by Jeffrey Biegel and Key Chorale, February 2027

• String orchestra arrangement of The Legend of Sohrab and Rostam, for choir and string orchestra, by Mithra Orchestra, March 2027

• Zaal and Roudabeh, a Romance, for string orchestra by Mithra Orchestra, March 2027

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You can go to the events page for more details

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Updated in November 2025. Not to be altered without permission.