Kourosh Ghamsari-Esfahani
Kourosh is an Iranian-Canadian composer-violinist, now based in San Francisco. He started playing the violin over 20 years ago in a public school strings program, and now holds a Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University in Performance and Composition, and a Master of Fine Arts in
Interdisciplinary Arts from Simon Fraser University.
He has presented at festivals and artist residencies across North America and internationally, including: The Brush Creek Arts Residency in Wyoming, the
Arteles International Creative Residency in Finland, and the Montreal Contemporary Music Lab. He is a founding member of the Breathing Bass Ensemble, which was in-residence at Simon Fraser University from 2019-2020. The ensemble continues to work on creative, multi-media shows and is one of Kourosh’s passions.
As a teacher, he firmly believes that learning to play music should be a meaningful and empowering experience – no matter your age, background, or experience level. In addition to teaching classical violin, he strives to center repertoire that is exciting and inspiring for students. His violin lessons can
include instruction in composition and improvisation, so that students can develop the skills needed to fully and freely express themselves.
Alive or Dead, What Musician would you do anything to see?
Greatest Musical Influence?
Any hidden talents besides music?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and cooking!
What did you want to be while you were growing up?
If you could have any ‘Super Power’, which one would it be?
I’d be Super Man. Flight, laser eyes, invulnerability, everything.
If you could master any other instrument which would it be?
Cello or piano
Have you had what people would consider your “15 Minutes of Fame”, and if so when/what was that?
When I composed and performed my own violin concerto, at my graduation recital in college.
It’s your last meal: What would it be?
A traditional Persian dish called Ghormeh-Sabzi.
You are sent to a deserted island, and you only have one album to listen to: Which is it?
The soundtrack from the show Steven Universe.
If you could leave one lesson with your students what would it be?
Have fun, enjoy yourself. Life’s too short to take everything too seriously!
