Foad Ghahremani (born in 1984 in Kermanshah, Iran) began his artistic journey in childhood, first learning the Tanbur in a culturally rich family environment alongside his brothers. In 1991, he studied Orff-based music education for children under Alireza Sanati, followed by classical piano training with Sirous Sangi, while continuing his Tanbur practice with Sirous Ghahremani and Hazhir Vakilifar. He received his initial rhythm training on the Tombak from Shahrouz Ghahremani. Since 1997, he has focused on the Setar, which gradually became his primary instrument.
His first experience in film scoring came in 2003 with the feature film "Milkan: A Place to Be" directed by Vahid Vakilifar.
Foad holds a Bachelor’s degree in Iranian music performance from the University of Gilan and a Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology from the Iran University of Art in Tehran.
As a Setar player, he has studied with renowned masters such as Arsham Khorsandpour, Bahram Jamali, Massoud Shaari, and Hossein Alizadeh. He has also received training in solfège, fundamentals of musical performance, ear training, composition, and orchestral conducting under the guidance of Sharif Lotfi and Hamid Askari.
He has conducted anthropological study on Yaresan music and the Tanbur tradition of Kermanshah. in the field of ethnomusicology, he has benefited from the teachings of scholars such as Mohsen Hajarian, Hooman As’adi, Mohammadreza Azadehfar, Seyed Hossein Meysami, Keyvan Aghamohseni, and Hamid Askari.
Foad Ghahremani has composed original scores for numerous feature-length fiction and documentary films, including:
• The Wasteman, Ahmad Bahrami, (2024)
• Cold Sigh, Nahid Bahrami, (2023)
• The Wastetown, Ahmad Bahrami, (2022)
• Qamous, Ali Barati, (2020)
• Rhinos Conquered the Middle East, Vahid Vakilifar, (2022)
• The White Line Inside the Red Circle, Mona Zahed, (2020)
• Domab, Vahid Vakilifar, (Docu), (2020)
• The Wasteland, Ahmad Bahrami, (2020)
• Vishar, Mahdi Moniri, (Docu), (2017)
• Milkan, Vahid Vakilifar, (2003)
He has also composed music for several short and medium-length films, documentaries, and animations such as:
• Labshoor, Javad Vatani, (Docu), (2024)
• Anticlockwise, Jalal Vafaie, (Docu), (2019)
• Ice of That Summer, Mehrdad Abdollahi, (2020)
• The Requiem for Samira, Mahdi Ghafouri, (2021)
• Furnace, Saeed Asadi, (2021)
• Deform, Alireza Noori, (2024)
• Little Adam Example, Ahou Alagha (an Animated Film Produced in the United States) (2021)
• Children of Hope, Mohammadreza Jahanpanah, (Docu), (2020)
• The Dignity of Suffering, Saeed Bashiri, (Docu), (2021)
As a Setar player, Foad has performed on the following albums:
• Makhtoom – by Pouyan Mansouri & Meysam Setayesh (Showra Ensemble)
• Mahali-ha, Sound of Iran – by Sharif Lotfi (Tehran Philharmonic Quartet – Iranian Instruments)
• A Letter to the Friend – by Amirhoseyn Najafi
From 2013 to 2016, Foad taught music at the Kermanshah Conservatory of Music and the University of Applied Science and Technology. He has also served for several years as the Treasurer and Education Manager of the Iran Philharmonic Society.
He studied the comprehension and contemplation of literary texts under the guidance of Mr. Ali Akbar Ranjbaran, known by his pen name Vafa.
