Sign up for the newsletter!

Shirzad Sharif

Being born and raised to a highly acclaimed musical family in Tehran, Iran which has nurtured the likes of the legendary Tar Grand Master Ostad Farhang Sharif, Shirzad was exposed to the amazing intricacies of Persian classical music from early childhood and while in Iran was fortunate enough to have grown up studying the Tonbak drum under the direct tutelage of Tonbak Grand Master Ostad Bahman Rajabi. While growing up in Iran, Shirzad also studied the Persian Sufi frame drum known as Daf & Sacred Sufi lute (Tanbur) considered the most Sacred instrument of Iran.

Learning these instruments resulted & required Shirzad's focus and intense studying of the spiritual realm, a journey which begins by polishing the heart and enhancing the spiritual aspect of the human being over the physical.

Having attended, studied & performed in many different tariqat, dargahs & khanghahs, Shirzad is very adept in drumming & performing live music along with Zikr (chanting) which is considered an Islamic form of meditation to connect to God and draw the divine energy into the world of matter.

While in the United States Shirzad also expanded his percussive knowledge to encompass all of the regions of the greater Middle East & is also the first percussionist to have composed a many number of percussive compositions using the three Arabic, Persian & Indian drums & rhythms, thus connecting and creating a sacred rhythmic triangle within the three ancient “Silk Road” regions.

Shirzad is also the founder & musical director of Somma, Somma Sufi Ensemble and Somma Dub Ensembles which for over 8 years have produced some of the most authentic yet innovative and forward looking Persian sacred and classical based music ever heard till this day. Using various forms and instrumentation Shirzad's strongly classical rooted pioneering music has been breaking genres, musical boundaries, geographical borders & raising audience consciousness and appreciation of the divine.