Parisa Pirzadeh is an Iranian-British violist, violinist, educator and researcher whose artistic practice brings together classical performance, Persian musical heritage and cross-cultural collaboration.

Beginning her musical education at the age of ten at Tehran Music School, Parisa developed an early foundation in violin before establishing herself professionally as a violist. She went on to perform with the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, including as Assistant Principal Viola, and has since built a diverse career encompassing orchestral, chamber, solo and recording work in Iran, the United Kingdom and internationally.

Parisa holds an M.A. in Music Performance with First Class Honours from Tehran University of Art and an M.Mus. in Performance Studies with Distinction from the University of Manchester. Her academic and artistic development has been shaped by a strong interest in performance practice, musical interpretation and the relationship between Western classical traditions and Persian music.

Since establishing her career in the UK, Parisa has performed with a range of orchestras and ensembles, including Chineke! Orchestra, Northern Film Orchestra, Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra, Symphonia Verbum and Michael Haydn Orchestra. Her performance work has also included the Global Women’s Orchestra project associated with Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story and the opening of Aviva Studios at Factory International in Manchester.

As a soloist, Parisa has performed repertoire including Bruch’s Double Concerto, Herbert Howells’ Elegy for Viola and, more recently, Telemann’s Viola Concerto with the Baroque Strings Orchestra at the University of Manchester. Her chamber music development has included participation in a masterclass with the internationally acclaimed Danel Quartet, while her recording experience extends internationally to the Czech Television Sound Stage.

Alongside her performance career, Parisa is deeply committed to music education and creative participation. She has taught violin and viola through organisations including Olympias Music Foundation, One Education Music Organisation and Tehran Music School, working with students across school, community and individual learning environments. As a creative facilitator, she has contributed to projects with Music Action International, Brighter Sound, Horizons Festival, Sheba Festival and the Royal Exchange Theatre, using music as a means of artistic expression, cultural exchange and community connection.

Research is another important dimension of Parisa’s practice. Her  research interests extend to the relationship between Persian and Western instruments and performance traditions, reflected in her published book, Investigating the Comparative Performance Features of Persian Ghaychak and Violin Alto.

Parisa’s creative output also encompasses recording and composition. Her credits include the album Vocalise: Selected Pieces of Classical Music, the EP Beyond the Sea, the bilingual children’s single My Dad Is Not Superman and the original soundtrack for the film Don’t Tell Anyone. Vocalise received a Barbad Certificate of Appreciation, recognising her contribution to recorded classical music.

Her work in music and cultural education has received further recognition in the UK. In 2024, she was named a finalist in the Northern Cultural Education Awards – One to Watch category, following recognition through the Manchester Culture Awards for her contribution to the Pushing Boundaries project.

At the heart of Parisa Pirzadeh’s work is a commitment to artistic curiosity and musical dialogue. Drawing on her Iranian heritage, classical training and international performance experience, she seeks to create connections between musical traditions while continuing to develop her voice as a performer, educator and researcher.