Naghmeh Farahmand
Daf, Darbuka
Naghmeh Farahmand is an Iranian-Canadian percussionist, composer, educator, and multidisciplinary artist whose work bridges Persian musical traditions with contemporary and intercultural performance. Recognized for her expressive artistry and mastery of a wide range of percussion instruments, she has built an international career that spans traditional Persian music, world music, jazz, contemporary composition, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Born into a distinguished musical family in Iran, Farahmand is the daughter of the renowned percussion master Mahmoud Farahmand. Surrounded by music from an early age, she began studying the tonbak at the age of six under her father's guidance. Believing that a percussionist should also understand melody, her teachers encouraged her to study the santoor, which she pursued with two of Iran's most respected musicians, Faramarz Payvar and Pashang Kamkar. Drawn to the spiritual and expressive power of the daf, she later studied Sufi and Kurdish rhythmic traditions with Bijan Kamkar and Masoud Habibi.
Before moving to Canada in 2010, Farahmand performed extensively throughout Iran and internationally with leading Persian music ensembles. Her performances took her to festivals and concert halls across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including appearances in Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, Japan, Kuwait, and the United Kingdom. She also collaborated for many years with celebrated Iranian artists including the ney master Hassan Nahid and vocalist Hengameh Akhavan.
Since settling in Toronto, Farahmand has become one of Canada's most sought-after percussionists. Her artistic interests have expanded to include collaborations in Arabic, Turkish, Indian, Bulgarian, jazz, and contemporary music traditions, leading to performances with artists and ensembles across North America, Europe, and Asia. Equally comfortable in traditional and innovative settings, she is admired for her rhythmic sophistication, sensitivity, and ability to create meaningful dialogue between musical cultures.
Farahmand is also a dedicated educator who has taught for more than fifteen years through workshops, masterclasses, and educational programs around the world. She founded the Sharghi Percussion Ensemble, collaborated extensively with Iranian national television, and has contributed to the development of percussion pedagogy through her publication Helheleh, a collection of works for daf.
Whether performing on the tonbak, daf, darbuka, frame drums, cajón, udu, or drum set, Naghmeh Farahmand brings exceptional artistry, imagination, and depth to every project. Through her performances, teaching, and creative work, she continues to build bridges between cultures while expanding the expressive possibilities of percussion.

