هژیر مهرافروز
هژیر مهرافروز متولد ۱۸ اسفند ماه ۱۳۵۷ در کرمانشاه پرورش یافته در خانواده ای فرهنگی اهل ذوق، هنر و عرفان که به تشویق ایشان و راهنمایی های دایی بزرگوارش جناب استاد مرحوم سید خلیل عالی نژاد قدم در عرصه عشق و موسیقی نهاد.
در ابتدا آموزش ساز آیینی تنبور را در کرمانشاه و صحنه فرا گرفته و پس از آن به آموزش مقام های باستانی تنبور نزد اساتیدپرداخت ، در سن ۱۱ سالگی به آموزش سه تار پرداخته و همزمان ردیف های آوازی استاد محمود کریمی را به همراهی و راهنمایی پدر آموخته و در سن ۱۴ سالگی به عرصه تار نوازی وارد شد و در این اثنا به بررسی و مطالعه سبک های تار نوازی پرداخت و از چشمه خروشان معرفت و دانش موسیقایی سید خلیل عالی نژاد بهره ها گرفت چند صباحی نزد استاد ردیف دان مرحوم رضا وهدانی کسب فیض کرد و در سن ۱۷ سالگی به دلیل اشتیاق فراوان در آموختن موسیقی به آموزش و تحقیق در زمینه ی سبک های دیوان نوازی کردستان پرداخت
پس از اتمام دوره سربازی به عنوان نوازنده و آهنگساز در گروه های مختلف و جشنواره های متعدد شرکت نمود در سن ۲۱ سالگی وی به آموزش و آشنایی با سازهای جهانی چون گیتار و پیانو رو آورد در سن ۲۳ سالگی گروه آیان را بنیان نهاد
آلبوم قلندر در سال ۱۳۸۴ به اتمام رسید
در سال ۱۳۸۸ اولین کنسرت گروه آیان در اریکه ایرانیان با استقبال بی نظیر طرفداران روبرو شد
سال ۱۳۸۹ اجرا در برج میلاد
هژیرمهرافروز به همراه گروه آیان در سال ۱۳۹۰ به جشنواره لوکارنو فولک سوییس دعوت شدند
از دیگر آلبوم های این هنرمند می‌توان به آلبوم «من خانه نمیدانم» و «لامی» اشاره کرد.
Hazhir Mehrafrouz
Hazhir Mehrafrouz is an Iranian singer, composer and improviser
Hazhir was born in 1978 in Kermanshah, Iran in a family appreciative and sorounded of music, culture and mysticism. At a very young age, he started learning Persian traditional music under his father’s supervision and inspirations. At the age of five, he was able to play the Tanbur well to accompany his father. At the age of 11, he studied and learnt Persian teditional radif from Master Mahmud Karimi [4] and simultaneously, he started to learn and play the setar [5] and tar [6] under the supervision of his parental uncle Seyed Khalil Alinezhad. Later, He attended radif lessons under the tutorship of Master Reza Vohdani
At the age of 17, he began his research on Kurdish music and due to his love for music, he learnt to play the Divan (Saz) masterfully. Afterwards, he learnt to play the guitar and piano and he established a musical group called Ayaan. He successfully managed to create a new music genre called Talfighi music by using a fusion of traditional Iranian music instruments (tar, setar, tandur) with modern instruments such as guitar, saxophone and drums. He has also given numerous successful concerts in Iran, Turkey and Switzerland. Gome-be-haj-rafte is one of Hazhir’s famous song
Executive Summary
Hazhir Mehrafrouz is an acclaimed Iranian vocalist, composer, researcher of ritual and mystical music, and accomplished multi-instrumentalist with more than two decades of distinguished artistic experience in Persian classical, Maqam, Mystical, and contemporary fusion music
His artistic journey is deeply rooted in the preservation, revitalization, and contemporary interpretation of Iran’s rich musical heritage, with a particular focus on the ritual and maqam traditions of Kurdistan. Drawing upon extensive knowledge of the Persian classical music tradition, years of field research, and experience in both classical and contemporary musical practices, Mehrafrouz has developed a distinctive artistic voice that seamlessly bridges tradition and innovation.
As the founder and artistic director of the Ayan Music Group and the Nasl-e Khalil Tanbur Ensemble, he has made significant contributions to the promotion of Iranian ritual and mystical music through acclaimed studio productions, major concert performances at Iran’s leading cultural venues, international festival appearances, and the development of his distinctive artistic philosophy known as the “Qalandari Style.” His work has played an important role in introducing the spiritual and cultural richness of Iranian music to audiences both nationally and internationally.
In addition to his work as a vocalist and composer, Mehrafrouz is an accomplished performer on the Tanbur, Najva, Tar, Setar, Divan, Daf, Guitar, Piano, and Keyboard. Throughout his career, he has remained actively engaged in research on Kurdish music, Iranian Maqam traditions, Ritual music, and the preservation and transmission of Iran’s intangible musical heritage through performance, education, and scholarly study.
Driven by a profound respect for tradition and a commitment to artistic innovation, Hazhir Mehrafrouz’s mission is to preserve the authenticity of Iranian musical heritage while presenting it through a contemporary artistic vision that resonates with diverse audiences and fosters meaningful cultural dialogue across international communities.
Professional Biography
Hazhir Mehrafrouz (born in Kermanshah, Iran) is an acclaimed Iranian vocalist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and researcher specializing in Persian Ritual, Mystical, and classical music. Widely recognized for his contributions to the preservation and contemporary interpretation of Iran’s rich musical heritage, he has established himself as one of the leading figures in the field of Iranian ritual and Maqam music.
Raised in a family deeply devoted to culture, literature, and mysticism, Mehrafrouz developed a profound appreciation for music from an early age. His artistic journey was profoundly shaped by the guidance of the late Master Seyed Khalil Alinejad, one of Iran’s most distinguished Tanbur virtuosos and an influential figure in the country’s mystical musical tradition.
His formal musical education began with the study of the Tanbur and the ancient ritual maqams associated with this sacred instrument. He later expanded his training to include the Setar, Tar, and the classical Persian vocal repertoire (Radif), studying under renowned masters including the late Seyed Khalil Alinejad and the late Reza Vahdani. These formative years laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to both artistic excellence and scholarly research.
Alongside his performance career, Mehrafrouz has pursued extensive research in the fields of Kurdish music, Iranian Maqam traditions, Persian mystical and ritual music, Divan performance techniques, and the musical heritage of Iran’s diverse ethnic communities. His academic and artistic investigations have played a significant role in shaping his distinctive musical language.
Following the completion of his military service, he began his professional career as a vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, and artistic director. Building upon his studies of Persian classical music, he further expanded his artistic perspective through the study of Guitar and Piano, integrating elements of contemporary composition with the aesthetic principles of traditional Iranian music.
In 2002, Mehrafrouz founded the Ayan Music Institute and the Ayan Music Group, an artistic ensemble dedicated to presenting Iranian ritual and mystical music through innovative musical expression while preserving its authentic cultural identity. Under his artistic leadership, the ensemble produced several notable works, including Del-e Ghalandar, Ayan, Godazeh-ha, Lami, and Man Khaneh Nemidanam (I Know No Home).
A defining milestone in his international career came in 2012, when he received an official invitation to perform at the Locarno International Folk Festival in Switzerland, introducing Iranian ritual and mystical music to international audiences and further expanding his global artistic presence.
Among Mehrafrouz’s most significant artistic achievements is the development of the “Qalandari Style,” an original artistic approach inspired by the ritual music of Iranian Kurdistan, the Iranian maqam tradition, the heritage of Qawali, and the mystical poetry of Jalal al-Din Rumi. Characterized by expressive improvisation, emotional authenticity, spiritual depth, and an unwavering commitment to artistic sincerity, the Qalandari Style represents a distinctive contribution to the contemporary evolution of Iranian musical expression.
Today, Hazhir Mehrafrouz continues his work as a performer, composer, researcher, educator, and cultural ambassador, dedicating his career to preserving, promoting, and revitalizing Iran’s ritual and mystical musical traditions while fostering intercultural dialogue through the universal language of music.
Artistic Portfolio
Artistic Identity
Hazhir Mehrafrouz has cultivated a distinctive artistic identity shaped by expressive vocal artistry, intuitive musicianship, and an immersive approach to live performance. His creative practice is guided by the belief that music is a living form of expression-one that evolves through spontaneity, emotional authenticity, and the dynamic relationship between performer, ensemble, and audience.
Rather than adhering to conventional performance practices, Mehrafrouz seeks to create immersive musical experiences in which sound, poetry, and emotion converge to form a unified artistic narrative. This distinctive perspective has become a defining characteristic of his work and continues to shape his artistic evolution.
Artistic Expertise
Persian Classical, Maqam, and Mystical Vocal Performance
Music Composition, Arrangement & Production
Iranian Ritual, Mystical, and Kurdish Traditional Music
Iranian Maqam Music
Research in Iranian Classical, Ritual, and Maqam Music
Music Education and Preservation of Iran’s Musical Heritage
Artistic Direction and Stage Performance Management
Musical Instruments
Tanbur
Najva (Invented Instrument)
Tar
Setar
Divan
Daf
Guitar
Piano
Artistic Contributions
Founder and Artistic Director of the Ayan Music Group, an ensemble dedicated to the contemporary interpretation of Iranian ritual and mystical music.
Founder of the Nasl-e Khalil Tanbur Ensemble, established to preserve, promote, and celebrate the artistic legacy of the late Master Seyed Khalil Alinejad and the rich tradition of Iranian Tanbur music.
Creator and Developer of the Qalandari Style, an original artistic approach that integrates Persian ritual music, the Iranian maqam tradition, Kurdish musical heritage, and mystical poetry into a distinctive contemporary performance practice.
Researcher in Iranian Mystical, Maqam, and Kurdish Music, with extensive studies focused on ritual traditions, regional musical heritage, and the preservation of Iran’s intangible musical culture.
International Advocate for Iranian Ritual Music, introducing the spiritual and artistic traditions of Iranian music to global audiences through concerts, festivals, recordings, and cultural exchange initiatives.
Author of Shiveh-ye Tanbur Navazan-e Nasl-e Khalil (The Tanbur Performance Style of the Khalil Generation), a specialized study of Tanbur performance techniques and the musical heritage of the Khalil lineage.
Major Albums
Del-e Ghalandar
Ayan
Lami
Man Khaneh Nemidanam
Godazeh-ha
Major Concert Performances
Arikeh Iranian Hall – Tehran, Iran
Milad Tower Conference Hall – Tehran, Iran
Vahdat Hall – Tehran, Iran
Ivan-e Shams Hall – Tehran, Iran
Andisheh Hall – Tehran, Iran
Hilton Hotel – Konya, Turkey
Baykara Hotel – Konya, Turkey
Ozkaymak Konya Hotel – Konya, Turkey
Piazza Grande – Locarno, Ticino, Switzerland
International Activities
Participation in the Locarno Folk Festival, Switzerland (2012).
Several Performances in Turkey from 2012 to 2015.
Promotion of Iranian mystical and ritual music for international audiences.
Research Fields
Iranian Classical Music
Kurdish Music
Iranian Maqam Music
Mystical Music
Ritual Music
Artistic Philosophy
“I believe in roots; for meaning flows through roots. As Rumi says: “All houses became one … Look upon the water, for they are not separate, though they have emerged separately.”
In my view, art is more than a means of pleasure or a way of passing time; it is a symbolic language for conveying meaning. My constant endeavor has been to reinterpret, through a contemporary perspective, the roots, culture, and authenticity of the art of Iran not as a memory of the past, but as a living and flowing truth.”