The Israeli-Iranian
Musical Initiative
Cross-cultural collaboration and an ongoing dialogue between individuals and communities
About us
The Israeli-Iranian Musical Initiative (I=I), established in 2013, encourages an intellectual and cultural dialogue between individuals and communities through artistic creations. The project presents the fruitful possibilities of cross-cultural musical collaboration. In doing so, it reaches out to the Jewish, Israeli, and Iranian communities, as well as the general public, promoting a cultural and artistic dialogue between audiences, creators, and performers.
Dan Deutsch is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music and the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies. Dan obtained his M.A. in music theory and composition from the Jerusalem Academy of Music, and B.A. in comparative literature from the Jerusalem Hebrew University. In his current research, Dan explores the musical and cultural aspects of Gustav Mahler’s symphonic works, focusing on the interaction between Mahler’s compositional approach and his status as a Jew in fin-de-siècle Vienna.
In addition to his academic activity, Dan writes music for various ensembles and orchestras. He participated in festivals and venues in Israel and Europe, among them is the the Annual Israeli Music Celebration, Tzililim ba Midbar Festival [sounds in the desert], and the Piyut Festival. Dan’s pieces are performed in Israel, Europe, and Canada, and are occasionally broadcasted in the Israeli National Radio.
Parisa Sabet is an experienced Iranian composer, music teacher, and multi-media journalist. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in music composition at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, and her Maters degree at the University of Toronto. Currently, she is pursuing her DMA in composition at the University of Toronto under the supervision of Christos Hatzis. Parisa is recipient of several grants and scholarships including 2014-2015 Ontario Graduate Scholarship, as well as John Weinzweig GraduatingScholarship. She is also recipient of 2013-2014 SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship to research the indigenous music by women inher native Iran and to write an original composition related to this theme. Professionally, her compositions have won various competitions and been performed in different venues in North America. Additionally, her work has been broadcast in radios such Chicago's Classical and folk Music Radio (98.7 WFMT).
Noam Lemish is an Israeli-American pianist, composer, scholar and educator, currently a DMA candidate in Jazz Performance at the University of Toronto. He has appeared in numerous performances across the US, Canada, Europe, Israel, and in Bhutan. His most recent album, Nightfall, a collaboration with percussionist George Marsh was released in July 2013. His compositions include chamber, choral, piano, numerous jazz works and “The People’s King”: a commissioned multi-cultural suite in celebration the King of Bhutan’s 30th birthday composed while teaching music in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan in 2010. Forthcoming album releases in 2015 include a duo album with improviser/composer Will Johnson and piano solo album presenting W.A. Mathieu’s The Magic Clavier (Book I).
Felipe is a prolific Latin-American composer who has spent almost the last two decades of his life in North-America. He brings to the organization not only his varied and extensive musical expertise, but also more than 10 years of experience as a seasoned advertising and marketing executive in both the USA and Canada. He has participated in the successful start-up and further expansion of global advertising companies, while residing in Miami, New York City and more recently Toronto. He currently manages his own organization which promotes cross-border business and cultural opportunities. Felipe has degrees in Music Composition from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (USA), and the University of Toronto (Canada).
Felipe Ramírez-Rodríguez