
Biography
Pouya Hamidi thrives on the magic of creating music in the moment, the miracle of collaboration, the mystery of sharing ineffable beauty with other musicians and audiences alike.
He was born in 1986 to the sound of sirens over Tehran during the Iran/Iraq war. As a boy he’d escape the city every Friday for hikes with his dad and brother.
At family gatherings his parents danced, guests played and sang. Pouya started piano lessons at 8 and was soon improvising at the keyboard. He filled notebooks with tunes about his family, the nearby mountains, even the glowing embers in the fireplace. He put on concerts in the living room, hand printing the programmes and adjusting the lights to create just the right atmosphere. He and his brother played air guitar and drums, accompanying Nirvana, Pink Floyd and Radiohead on mixtapes brought home from school.
When Pouya was 12, the Hamidis left friends and family behind in Tehran, looking for a better life in Toronto.
When he arrived in Canada Pouya didn’t speak a word of English. He studied piano and composition, enrolled in the Taylor Academy at the Royal Conservatory and brought home trophies from the Kiwanis Festival and the Canadian Music Competition.
He explored the splendours of the public library and borrowed recordings – everything from Beethoven symphonies to hits by Bjork – with insatiable curiosity.
He also discovered the joy of collaborating with other musicians, whether he was playing with garage bands in high school or leading a 12-person progressive rock group. Pouya, who stuttered as a child, found music was an invaluable means of making social connections.
While pursuing a double major in composition and piano at the University of Toronto, he wrote film scores for independent movies.
He also completed McGill’s Masters of Sound Recording Program in Montreal. He loves working in the recording studio – a kind of sacred space where the magic of technology and human imagination combine to capture music forever. He’s worked on dozens of recordings, including Juno-nominated albums, with musicians across the country.
Pouya co-founded the Ladom Ensemble in 2007, a quartet of fellow students at U of T. He’s Ladom’s resident composer and pianist. Their playlist of original music fuses Persian and Western classical traditions, blended with Argentinian tango, Serbian folk dance, progressive rock. They’ve toured all across Canada and have released two albums.
He also co-founded ICOT, a group of Iranian-Canadian composers who developed over 40 new works, ranging from opera and ballet to orchestral and vocal pieces. His music has been performed throughout North America.
“I’m in awe,” he says, “of the power and wonder of music. Collaborating, composing, sharing the stage with fellow musicians, feeding off their energy – it’s heaven on earth.”
Written by Denise Ball.
Studio Photos







Live Photos






List of Works
Title of Composition | Instrumentation | Length | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Notes of Hope: 3 Songs | Voice, piano, string quartet, percussion, and tar | 15:00 min | 2022 |
Man Marg Ra | Aria rearranged for voice and piano | 7:00 min | 2022 |
Spherical Interactions | Rearrangement for voice, piano, string quartet, and percussion | 5:00 min | 2022 |
Hafez | Choir (SATB), piano, daf | 05:00 min | 2021 |
Songwalks (Original Podcast Soundtrack) | Piano, flute, harp, vibraphone, marimba, sound effects | 25:00 min | 2021 |
Ambient Song | Voice, piano, cello, percussion | 09:00 min | 2021 |
Rumi’s Fables | Narrator, piano, cello, accordion, hand percussions | 10:00 min | 2018 |
Notes of Hope | Soprano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, trombone, french horn, synthesizer, tar, tombak, kamanche, daf, percussion | 15:00 min | 2018 |
The Walls Are Made of Song | Accordion, piano, cello, hand percussions | 10:00 min | 2018 |
Sense of Place | Two B-flat Clarinets | 8:00 min | 2017 |
Recall the Eden (in collabration with ICOT) | Voice, tombak, tar, and orchestra | 15:00 min | 2016 |
Three Reflections on Empathy | Accordion and String Quartet | 10:00 min | 2016 |
3 Short Songs for RPSM SongBook | Piano and voice | 7:00 min | 2015 |
The Treaty of Friendship | Woodwind quintet and narration | 04:30 min. | 2015 |
Spherical Interactions | Orchestra with soprano and accordion | 08:00 min. | 2014 |
YouDance School Composition | Piano, tar, tombak, and daf | 03:00 min. | 2014 |
Five Tableaux from Khosrow and Shirin | Ballet with Symphony Orchestra | 02:30 min. | 2014 |
Sparks | Laptop Orchestra | 25:00 min. | 2014 |
Gift | Accordion, piano, cello, and hand percussion | 6:00 min. | 2014 |
Arash the Archer | Soprano and orchestra | 10:00 min. | 2013 |
Water | Tenor and string quartet | 7:00 min. | 2012 |
Journey Inward | 6 hands, one piano | 12:30 min. | 2011 |
Expansion – click here for the PDF score | 13-piece ensemble | 10:00 min. | 2009 |
Our Night | Violin and tape | 03:18 min. | 2009 |
Goriz | Accordion, piano, cello, and percussion | 06:00 min. | 2009 |
Distant Earth – click here for the PDF score | String quartet | 08:00 min. | 2008 |
Noor | Accordion, piano, cello, and percussion | 06:00 min. | 2008 |
The Battle Within | Piano | 05:00 min. | 2007 |
Adagio | Piano trio | 04:00 min. | 2006 |
Raha | Accordion, piano, cello, and percussion | 05:50 min. | 2006 |
Nafas | Woodwind quintet | 05:00 min. | 2006 |
The Painting | Piano trio | 07:00 min. | 2005 |
Softly into the Night – Click here for the audio | Tenor saxophone, double bass, and piano | 04:30 min. | 2004 |
Sonata in g-sharp minor | Piano | 07:30 min. | 2004 |
Sleeper in the Valley | Baritone and piano | 03:15 min. | 2004 |
Bagatelle No. 4 – click here for the audio | Piano | 03:00 min. | 2003 |
Fantasy for Violin and Piano in D minor | Violin and piano | 04:30 min. | 2003 |
Etude in A Major | Piano | 03:30 min. | 2003 |
When the Wind Blows | Viola and piano | 06:30 min | 2003 |
G Major Variations | Piano | 04:00 min | 2000 |
Ballade No. 1 | Piano | 06:30 min. | 2000 |
List of Performances
DATE (YEAR/MM/DD) | LOCATION | COMPOSITION | CONCERT TITLE | VENUE NAME |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022-11-24 | Toronto, ON | The Battle Within, Adagio, Man Marg Ra, Spherical Interactions, Three Reflections on Empathy, Sense of Place, Notes of Hope | The Music Gallery Presents: Sense of Place – An Evening of Music by Pouya Hamidi | 918 Bathurst |
2023-02-11 | Toronto, ON | Gift, and Noor | Xenia Presents Ladom Ensemble | Meridian Hall |
2023-02-05 | Welland, ON | Raha, Noor, Gift | Ladom Ensemble in Welland | Welland Centennial Auditorium |
2023-01-29 | Orillia, ON | Raha, Noor, Gift | Ladom Ensemble in Orillia! | St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church |
2022-10-30 | Regina, SK | Raha, Noor, Gift | Ladom Ensemble in Regina! | Darke Hall |
2022-10-06 | Toronto, ON | The Walls Are Made of Song | Women’s Musical Club of Toronto | Walter Hall |
2022-08-15 | Prince Edward, ON | Raha, Noor, Goriz, The Walls Are Made of Song | Live at Journey’s Festival | The Cape |
2022-08-06 and 07 | Stratford, Canada | Raha, The Walls Are Made of Song | Stratford Music Festival | Gallery Stratford and Bandshell |
2022-06-25 and 26 | Halifax, NS, Canada | Hafez | Unturned Pages by Choirs by Change | Wolfville & Halifax |
2022-04-02 | Mississippi Mills, ON | Raha, Gift, Noor | Live at Almonte | Almonte Old Town Hall |
2022-04-01 | Luskville, QC | Raha, Gift | Live at Pontiac Enchante | Pontiac Enchante |
2021-11-17 | Internet | Hafez | Portraits of Home by Amadeus Choir | Virtual |
2021-08-01 | Ottawa, ON, Canada | Raha, Goriz | Ladom Ensemble at Ottawa Chamberfest 2021 | Club SAW |
2021-02-28 | Internet | Raha, Ambient Song, Gift | Again (Dance film) – Presented by Danceworks | Vimeo (ticketed concert) |
2020-10-11 | Internet | Raha, Noor, Gift | Xienia Online Concert | Facebook Live |
2020-07-28 | Internet | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Toronto Summer Music Festival | Vimeo (ticketed concert) |
2020-02-08 | Saint John, NB, Canada | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Ladom Ensemble Live in Saint John | Imperial Theatre |
2020-02-06 | Fredericton, NB, Canada | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Ladom Ensemble Live in Fredericton | The Playhouse |
2020-01-12 | Toronto, ON, Canada | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Piano Fest: Ladom Ensemble | Burdock Brewary |
2019-11-26 | Toronto, ON, Canada | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Ladom Ensemble Noon Hour COC Concert | Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre |
2019-11-24 | Cornwall, ON, Canada’ | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Ladom Ensemble | Aultsville Theatre |
2019-08-03 | Ottawa, ON, Canada | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Ladom Ensemble | International Ottawa Chamber Festival |
2019-08-03 | Ottawa, ON, Canada | Rumi’s Fables | International Ottawa Chamber Festival | La Nouvelle Scène |
2019-07-30 | Toronto, ON, Canada | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Toronto Summer Music Festival | Heliconian Club |
2019-05-05 | Brockville, ON, Canada | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Ladom Ensemble | St. John’s United Church |
2019-03-22 to 2019-04-16 | Quebec and New Brunswick | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Jeunesse Musicale Eastern Tour | 12 different venues |
2019-01-20 to 2019-02-08 | Alberta and Saskatchewan | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Prairie Debut Tour | 13 different venues |
2019-01-16 | Toronto, ON, Canada | The Walls Are Made of Song, Gift | Ladom Ensemble Album Launch | Lula Lounge |
2018/02/11 to 2018/03/11 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Notes of Hope | Notes of Hope | Agricola Lutheran Church |
2018-09-29 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Rumi’s Fables | Rumi’s Fables | Aga Khan Museum |
2018-05-24 | Toronto, ON, Canada | The Walls are Full of Song, Gift | Ladom Ensemble | Massey College |
2018-03-09 to 2018-04-03 | Five Eastern Canada Provinces | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Debut Atlantic Tour | 10 different venues |
2018-01-24 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Three Reflections on Empathy | CMC Presents: Michael Bridge | Canadian Music Centre |
2017-08-11 | Ottawa, ON, Canada | Raha | CAPACOA Conference | Canada Convention Centre |
2017-09-24 to 2017-10-25 | Ontario and Quebec | The Walls are Full of Songs, Gift, Raha, Noor | Jeunesse Musicale Tour | 12 different venues |
2017-07-12 | Casalmaggiore, Italy | Journey Inward | Canadasalmaggiore Casalmaggiore | Casalmaggiore International Festival |
2017-06-18 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Recall the Eden | Concert for Peace | George Weston Recital Hall |
2017-04-24 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Sense of Place | New Sounds from an Ancient Land | Gallery 345 |
2017-01-27 | Ottawa, ON, Canada | Recall the Eden | Concert for Peace | Dominion-Chalmers United Church |
2016-07-24 | Ottawa, ON, Canada | Noor, Raha, Goriz, and Gift | International Ottawa Chamber Festival | La Nouvelle Scène |
2016-05-24 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Noor, Raha, Goriz, and Gift | Land of Four Seasons | Canada Centre for the Arts |
2016-05-13 | Toronto, ON, Canada | 3 Short Songs commissioned by RPSM School | THE REGENT PARK SONGBOOK | THE GARDINER MUSEUM |
2016-02-19 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Adagio | The Thirtieth Act | Toronto Canada Centre for the Arts |
2015-11-21 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Noor, Raha, Goriz, and Gift | Ladom Ensemble Live | Small World Music Centre |
2015-11-17 | Toronto, ON, Canada | A Treaty of Friendship | What’s in a Fable | Lillian H. Smith Library |
2015-10-17 | Oshawa, Ontario | Three Reflections on Empathy | Virtuosity Unbound | Regent Theatre |
2015-07-29 | Montreal, QC, Canada | Noor, Raha, Goriz, and Gift | Ladom Ensemble on Tour | Resonance Canadafe |
2015-07-28 | Trois-Rivières, QC | Noor, Raha, Goriz, and Gift | Ladom Ensemble on Tour | Richard Philibert |
2015-07-24 | Toronto, ON, Canada | 3 Short Songs commissioned by RPSM School. | Song Interpretation Recital | Canadian Music Centre |
2015-07-17 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Pouya’s Telescope Project | Electronic Series at Handlebar | Handlebar |
2015-06-15 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Journey Inward | CMC on the 13th | Canadian Music Centre |
2015-04-04 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Noor, Raha, Goriz, and Gift | Ladom Ensemble | Array Space |
2015-01-20 to 2015-02-24 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Tar, Piano, Daf, and Tombak | YouDance School Performances | Betty Oliphant Theatre |
2015-01-25 | Toronto, ON, Canada | The Treaty of Friendship | Russian Fables | Canadian Music Centre |
2014-12-05 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Three Interactions | Secret of Solstice | St. George AngliCanadan Church |
2014-05-24 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Five Tableaux from Khosrow and Shirin | Khosrow and Shirin Ballet | P.C. Ho Theatre |
2014-09-18 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Gift, Raha, Noor | Ladom Ensemble Live at CMC | Canadian Music Centre |
2014-05-15 | Hamilton, ON, Canada | Journey Inward | A Canadanadian Mosaic | Christ Church Canadathedral |
2014-03-20 | Montreal, QC, Canada | Sparks | CLOrk into Darkness | Phi Centre |
2014-03-06 | Montreal, QC, Canada | Sparks | CLOrk into Darkness | John Molson Building |
2014-02-16 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Gift, Raha, Noor | Ladom Ensemble CD Release | Hugh’s Room |
2013-07-18 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Man Marg Ra Aria | Operatic Narration of Arash the Archer | Westjet Stage, Harbourfront Stage |
2012-09-18 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Water | New Poetry, New Music | St. George AngliCanadan Church |
2012-02-04 | Ottawa, ON, Canada | Journey Inward | Persian Piano Night | Perez Hall |
2011-10-29 | Montreal, QC, Canada | Journey Inward | Persian Piano Night | L’eglise Saint- Jean- Baptiste |
2011-10-15 | Waterloo, ON, Canada | Journey Inward | Persian Piano Night | Conrad Grebel University College Chapel |
2011-08-07 | Toronto, ON, Canada | Journey Inward | Persian Piano Night | Heliconian Club |