Biography

Aref Karimi is a Tehran-born composer and multi-instrumentalist whose musical foundation began in adolescence. Karimi initiated practical training with the Tombak and Daf at the ages of 10 and 11, respectively, later expanding a performance repertoire to include the Setar at age 17.

Demonstrating a definitive commitment to the arts, Karimi transitioned from a background in experimental sciences to a dedicated arts curriculum during pre-university studies. This path led to a Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition from the 11th University of Applied Science and Technology in Tehran. During this formative period, Karimi also underwent rigorous instruction in the principles of composition under the mentorship of Morteza Shirkohi.

Currently, Karimi is pursuing a Master of Arts in Composition at the University of Art, Tehran. These contemporary academic pursuits have expanded into the field of electronic music and digital synthesis, where Karimi continues specialized studies under the supervision of Majid Tahriri and Arslan Abedian.

Aref Karimi’s piece, Saharan Cypress, won the second prize in the 8th RKC (2024).

Aref Karimi’s piece, Corridor, for Contrabass and Fixed Media, won the first prize in the 7th RKC (2022).