Song & Whispers – Kimia Hesabi & Ava Nazar – Sunday, March 29 at 4 pm
Song & Whispers – Kimia Hesabi & Ava Nazar – Sunday, March 29 at 4 pm
Song & Whispers honors women composers from the Iranian diaspora, highlighting works by Aso Kohzadi, Gity Razaz, Mozhgan Chahian, Nina Barzegar, and Yassaman Behbahani, as well as newly arranged Iranian folk songs by Kimia and Ava.
This is a hybrid concert - Select an option to see the ticket price.
To donate and watch live stream of this event, please select View Live Stream Only.
Song & Whispers
Kimia Hesabi, viola
Ava Nazar, piano
Aso Kohzadi Avaz
Gity Razaz Song and Whispers
Yassaman Behbahani Inspiration
Ava Nazar Nava Reverie
Mozhgan Chahian Hani and Sheh Murid
Nina Barzegar Suspended Canon
Nina Barzegar Morning Dance
traditional Iranian folk song, arr. Ava Nazar Lalaee
traditional Iranian folk song, arr. Kimia Hesabi Leila Leila
Song & Whispers brings together violist Kimia Hesabi and pianist Ava Nazar, Iranian artists presenting a program honoring women composers from the Iranian diaspora. Drawing from each artist’s recordings, including Kimia’s Nemāno Gaona and Ava’s Nahoft, the concert highlights works by Aso Kohzadi, Gity Razaz, Mozhgan Chahian, Nina Barzegar, and Yassaman Behbahani. In addition to these works, the program includes newly arranged Iranian folk songs by Kimia and Ava.
Kimia Hesabi is a violist, composer, educator, and arts administrator. As the Director of Learning and Engagement at National Philharmonic, she develops programs that are centered around artistic, educational, and social impact. Hesabi is a Co-founder of En Route, an ensemble that explores the unique sound of strings with creative performance experiences. Driven by a passion for music education, she actively teaches and leads clinics across the DMV area, partnering with organizations like Sound Impact to empower young people through creative musical engagement. Hesabi’s discography includes her debut album, Nemāno Gaona (2022), and Neera (2025) which is a collaboration with violinist Sarvin Hazin that includes their original compositions. Kimia is a proud board member of the American Viola Society.
Ava Nazar is an Iranian-American pianist based in New York. She has performed at notable venues such as the United Nations, Merkin Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, and Jacobs Music Center in San Diego. Her festival appearances include the Aspen Music Festival, and the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. Ava’s debut album Nahoft (Parma Recordings, 2025) features works by women composers from Iran, and was featured on PBS’s Feminine Fusion. Ava has toured with acclaimed vocalist Homayoun Shajarian across major U.S. venues. A passionate educator, she co-founded the Prelude Music Program in NYC and serves as assistant conductor of the Bronx County Chorus. She holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School.