Safa Shahidi is a pianist and composer whose work brings Persian folklore into dialogue with the Western classical tradition. Across more than three decades on stages in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, he has performed a repertoire spanning Scarlatti, Bach, Mozart, Brahms, and Scriabin alongside his own compositions.
In his music, oriental intervals, rhythms, and melodies move within a classical frame — a blend that brings East and West into a single voice. Born in Tehran and trained through the Trinity College London and Oxford & Cambridge examinations, he has written for piano, two pianos, chamber ensembles, and orchestra.
Since moving to the United States in 2014, he has continued to compose, teach, and perform — including work with UCLA’s Music & Kidney Health Program. At the summit, his playing offers a living example of what it looks like when two traditions serve one another.