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 in many prestigious international venues and festivals by today’s leading musicians, which include Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Japan; Arlene Schnitzer Hall in Portland, USA; Cincinnati Music Hall, Ohio, USA; Sage Gateshead, Newcastle, UK; Paddock Wood Proms, Paddock Wood, UK; La Roque-d’Anthéron Piano Festival, France; Biarritz Festival, France; Janacek Academy of Music and Performing Art, Brno, Czech Republic; Karlskrona International Piano Festival, Sweden; Capitol Theatre of Windsor, Windsor, Canada; Roudaki Hall, Tehran, Iran; by such distinguished artists such as Peter Jablonski, William Nicholson, Daniel Grimwood, Kotaro Fukuma, Jean-Francois Bouvery, Jeffrey Biegel, Margaret Fingerhut, Tier 3 Trio, Key Chorale, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, Cincinnati Symphony's Youth Orchestra, National Orchestra of Iran, and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. His works have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 In Tune, the UK, and NPR Radio 4, Netherlands. 

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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, Air and Variations for Clarinet, Violin and Cello with Scarab Club in Detroit, 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. 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. He was mentored in harmony, counterpoint, and composition by the great Iranian composer Saeed Sharifian, and in 2019 had his international professional debut with Zayande-Rud for string orchestra, performed by Windsor Symphony Orchestra in Canada. His music has been in demand internationally ever since.

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Farhad Poupel is currently the holder of the prestigious Global Talent visa which allows him to work on a range of composition projects with the international community of musicians.

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Upcoming performances of his music include ( You can go to the events page for more details)​

 

​​​Reng on Goldberg, By Cristian Sandndrin, February 2025

Dance of the Blossoms for Santur and String Orchestra, by Hossein Salehi and Portland Youth Camerata, May 2025​​​

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Updated in November 2024. Not to be altered without permission.