Iran`s Fajr International Music Festival awards winners

TEHRAN,Feb.21(MNA) -- Organizers of the 27th Fajr International Music Festival announced the winners on Sunday during a ceremony held at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall. A group of Iranian and international bands took part in the festival which ran from February 13 to 19 in Tehran. Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini, Deputy Culture Minister for Artistic Affairs Hamid Shahabadi and secretary of the event Hassan Riyahi took part in the ceremony. Jury members Shahin Farhat, Hamidreza Nurbakhsh, Razmik Ohanian, Mohammad Mirzamani and Manuchehr Biglaripur were also present in the award-giving ceremony. Young instrument maker Mohsen Shamlu was first honored and awarded for a collection of his handmade violins which went on exhibit at Vahdat Hall on the side section of the festival. Negin Zomorrodi received the first prize at the music composition and thesis section. The non-Iranian classical music award went to Mohammad-Hadi Ayanbod. Morteza Shafiei received the first prize at the composition section with the central theme of Islamic Revolution achievement. Shurangiz Ensemble from Gorgan by conductor Mohammadreza Purebrahimi got the Iranian classical music award. Martino Ensemble directed by leader Mehrdad Gholami from Tehran received the first prize in the group section of non-Iranian classical music. Samat Choir conducted by Azadeh Azimi also received the first prize in this section. The ceremony was brought to a close by paying tribute to veterans of music tar virtuoso Jalal Zolfonun, composer Vartan Sahakian and master of trumpet Ali Biglarpur. The late Heshmatollah Sanjari, formerly a conductor of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, was also remembered at the ceremony.