Mehdi Bagheri

Mehdi Bagheri (Composer, Kamancheh & Setar player) Mehdi Bagheri, born in 1980 in Kermanshah, Iran, is a renowned Kamancheh virtuoso, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. A leading figure of his generation, he has earned international acclaim for his mastery of the Persian Kamancheh and innovative musical voice. Trained under master musicians Kayhan Kalhor and Ardeshir Kamkar, Mehdi blends deep traditional knowledge with contemporary expression. He has performed at major venues and festivals worldwide, including the Oslo World Music Festival, Morgenland Festival, Théâtre de la Ville (Paris), Smithsonian Institution (Washington, D.C.), Getty Center (Los Angeles), LA Philharmonic 100 at the Hollywood Bowl, and Royal Festival Hall (London), as well as with the Berlin Radio Choir at the RBB Hall. In addition to live performances, Mehdi has worked across multiple musical fields, including film music, video game music, fusion music, and Iranian traditional music. His projects include collaborations on the Assassin’s Creed video game series. He is also active in music education, teaching music and performance at universities and academic institutions in the United States. Among his major achievements is the recording and publication of the Radif of Maestro Ali Akbar Shahnazi, preserving centuries-old Persian melodic traditions. He has also composed and arranged numerous works for solo Kamancheh and orchestra, continuing to expand the instrument’s reach worldwide.