News

January 12, 2026

Sepehr's piece, will the mountains sing for me will be perfomed by the American Composers Orchestra at DiMenna Center for Classical Music.

Celebrated as an “essential organization” (The New York Times) with “an expansive vision of orchestral composition” (Represent Classical), the American Composers Orchestra (ACO) announces a special EarShot Showcase on January 12, 2026 at 7:30 PM at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music. The program, conducted by Mélisse Brunet, features new works by Joseph Sowa, Chelsea Komschlies, Marina López, Sepehr Pirasteh, Iván Enrique Rodríguez, and Patricia Leonard. These promising artists have had works read by ACO’s national and international EarShot partner orchestras. The inaugural showcase features composers selected from the past few seasons, providing connections to industry leaders and producing high-quality recordings to drive future performances and commissions. The Showcase program will be workshopped by ACO in a public working rehearsal on January 12 at 10:30 AM. Currently celebrating its 49th season, American Composers Orchestra presents this showcase as a preview of its landmark 50th anniversary, which will see signature events and performances throughout the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 seasons. Lead support for the EarShot Showcase is provided by the Fromm Music Foundation.

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December 13, 2025

Giancarlo Latta and Sepehr Pirasteh will be performing In Exile, Exile, writtten be Sepehr Pirasteh, at the International Human Rights Art Festival in NYC. The piece is written for violin and electronics.

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An esteemed panel of judges, choosing from over 120 program applicants, has awarded the first ever DuPree Prize Commission to Sepehr Pirasteh for PCO’s 5th Anniversary of Winning Scores. Sepehr’s new work will premiere on this program.

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June 27, 2025

Sepehr was selected as one of the winners of the 2025 Cannonball Festival SWANA awards, alongside Fargo Nissim Tbakhi.

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May 18, 2025

Sepehr was commissioned by Network for New Music for their final concert of their 40th anniversary season - SONGS WITHOUT WORDS WITHOUT BORDERS, a celebration of international styles and music that transcends boundaries!

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Mar 23, 2025

Sepehr's work, will the mountains sing for me was premiered by the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Stilian Kirov. The concert was reviewed by Tim Sawyier. The review describes Sepehr Pirasteh's world premiere, will the mountains sing for me, as a "haunting, reflective statement" that effectively blends Iranian folk traditions with modern classical music, reflecting his multinational and immigrant experience. The piece, a 15-minute meditation on memory and exile, uses a melody from his father's song and explores how early memories are transformed by later experiences. The review highlights the work's solemn and agitated sections, noting the use of an ostinato and implied folk strains reminiscent of Bartók's style. It praises the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra's performance and Pirasteh's "burgeoning talent's singular voice."

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Sepehr joins the 2025 faculty composers alongside Melissa Dunphy and Cerulean Payne-Passmore, the Bergamot Quartet, and several guest composers and artists.

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Oct 30, 2024

Sepehr was selected as one of the semifinalists for Beth Morrison Projects NEXTGEN 3.

During the weekend of Nov. 23 and 24, 2024, the semifinalists will see their pieces performed at National Sawdust in New York City. The performances will be preceded by a two-hour rehearsal for each piece between Nov. 15-20 with tech and dress rehearsal set for Nov. 21 – 23.

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Sep 15, 2024

The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra recently announced its 2024/25 concert season.

On March 22, 2025, the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Mozart, Schubert, and a World Premiere by Sepehr Pirasteh with IPO Principal Clarinetist Trevor O'Riordan as soloist.

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January 6, 2024

Sepehr's piece, Before Dawn was selected for ACO Earshot Reading with Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Sepehr's Before Dawn was selected as one of the four compositions for the Dream American reading workshops with the Pacific Chamber Orchestra.

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