Zenith’s 10th Season Finale

Join us for the finale concert featuring the Indianapolis Quartet, proudly presenting "Family Photos," winner of Zenith's Composition Competition by composer Kian Ravaei. This captivating musical collage takes listeners on a journey through childhood memories and ancestral heritage, from whimsical carnivals to Iranian classical melodies and mythical paradises. Don't miss this chance to experience Ravaei's evocative artistry with the Indianapolis Quartet.

Artists: Indianapolis Quartet and Composer Kian Ravaei

Composer Kian Ravaei:

Composer Kian Ravaei (b. 1999) takes tone painting to a new level, synthesizing diverse inspirations into evocative musical portraits. Whether he is composing piano preludes inspired by mythical creatures, flute melodies that mimic the songs of endangered birds, or a string quartet that draws from the Iranian music of his ancestral heritage, he takes listeners on a spellbinding tour of humanity’s most deeply felt emotions. Chamber musicians have championed his works, leading to commissions from Chamber Music Northwest — where he served as a Protégé Project Composer-in-Residence — as well as Seattle Chamber Music Society and Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival. His rapidly expanding catalog has earned him notable honors such as a Copland House CULTIVATE Fellowship, a Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Composer Teaching Artist Fellowship, a New Music USA Creator Fund Award, and a Barlow Endowment Commission.

Zenith's Composition Competition 2024 Winner: Family Photos, For string quartet

From the composer: Family Photos is a musical collage of personally significant places from my childhood. The first movement, “At the Carnival,” takes inspiration from the whimsy and spectacle of my neighborhood carnival. “On the Tehran Tower,” the second movement, incorporates elements of Iranian classical music, inspired by my childhood trips to visit family in Tehran. The third and final movement, “In Arcadia,” represents not only my hometown, but also the Arcadia of Ancient Greek mythology, a heaven on Earth.