“Farzad Milani is a Montreal-based musician, composer, and performer whose artistic practice weaves together the rich and diverse musical traditions of the Near and Middle East with contemporary jazz and modern harmonic approaches. With roots in Persian music and a deep appreciation for folk repertoires of oriental musical cultures, Farzad’s work reflects a commitment to uncovering and celebrating the shared cultural DNA across these interconnected traditions.
A graduate of McGill University with a Master’s degree in Music Theory, Farzad has dedicated much of his research and creative output to microtonality; particularly the Persian 17-tone system. He has developed and performed on specially tuned instruments, including a quarter-tone accordion of his own design and a Persian-tuned piano. These instruments allow him to authentically express modal subtleties and ornamental nuances that are often lost in standard Western tuning systems.
He is the winner of many artistic and academic awards, such as The Best accordion player 2007 (Maah theatre festival, Iran), The best fusion album arrangement 2017 (Fadjr, Barbad, & Iran Music House Festivals), Phyllis and Bernard Shapiro music theory award 2021 (McGill Uni), Schulich music School Graduate Excellence award 2022 (McGill Uni), International Grant Competition award in music 2023 (McGill Uni), etc.
Farzad’s music is more than an aesthetic fusion; it is a heartfelt exploration of identity, memory, and connection. By bridging traditional forms with contemporary expression, he creates spaces where the past and present resonate together.”