Part of NEMPAC’s collaborative new Artist Series, Vanessa Naghdi, Fred Springer, and Sepehr Davallou will present Persian Songs Old + New, a concert featuring well-known Persian songs as well as new and contemporary songs by Persian composers. This concert will amplify the voices of this underrepresented group, bringing awareness, understanding, and the celebration of different cultures.
The beauty in Persian culture is that it spans centuries of time—and throughout its history—has been connected to all generations, both in the past and now in the present. Vanessa Naghdi is half-Persian and much of her family is from Iran. Sepehr Davallou is an Iranian citizen living and working in Boston, having just finished graduate studies at New England Conservatory. There is a sizable Persian community in the Boston area who greatly appreciate and support the arts, music, and literature, as these areas of artistic expression are so much a part of Persian culture. The melodies and texts presented in this concert will present beautiful songs that can be connected to—and understood by—anyone and everyone, bringing together different people from diverse communities.
By presenting this concert at the Bijou de la Vida Gallery, owned by Iranian art collector Ramin Khoshatefeh, these artists will present an immersive experience surrounded by many pieces of Persian artwork. This unique, non-traditional space reflects the music being performed and is a welcoming, intimate space for community members to feel a sense of belonging.
This concert will feature Pop, Folks, World, Traditional, and Classical music, with the talents of the following artists:
Vanessa Naghdi: Voice
Fred Springer: Guitar
Sepehr Davallou: Piano
DATE: Friday, March 21st 2025 at 7 PM
VENUE: Bijou de la Vida Gallery
ADDRESS: 390 Commercial Street, Boston, MA 02113 | North End
ABOUT VANESSA NAGHDI: Vanessa Naghdi is a Persian-American soprano originally from the Washington, D.C. area. This past season, she made her international debut as Cleopatra with Opéra Queens and sang as Soprano Soloist in Exsultate, jubilate with Salem Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed with various opera companies and has been awarded by the Dorothy Lincoln Smith Voice Competition and The American Prize in Vocal Performance.
ABOUT FRED SPRINGER: Fred Springer is an artist dedicated to sharing music and art through performance, outreach, and education. He has performed across three continents and has won top prizes in international solo guitar and ensemble competitions. He holds degrees in Classical Guitar Performance and Art History and arranges music for guitar with a passion for visual art and film.
ABOUT SEPEHR DAVALLOU: Sepehr Davallou is a pianist, coach, and aspiring conductor, having recently completed a vocal coaching degree at New England Conservatory. He holds a Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tehran. Sepehr has taught piano, harmony, and solfege at various music schools and has served as a teaching assistant at NEC.
