Iran’s first female conductor leads Tehran Symphony

42-year-old Paniz Faryousefi became the first female conductor to take the podium of the country’s principal orchestra. 

Paniz Faryousefi was born in Iran and began her musical career as a violinist. She later continued her professional studies at the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, Armenia. She has worked as a concertmaster, performed with various ensembles, and founded her own string quartet.

After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women in Iran faced strict limitations in public and artistic roles. Solo female singing before a mixed-gender audience remains prohibited, and major positions in state cultural institutions have traditionally been held by men.

Earlier, it was reported that Astana hosted a concert marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, celebrating global cooperation through music.