Nivak Ensemble


Nivak Ensemble is Persian established ensemble which has been founded in 2008 by Golriz Zarbakhsh with her sister Zhabiz. Nivak is the root of the word ‘‘Nava’’ which in ancient Persian language means Tune and Music. The main goal of formation of this ensemble was to perform string duos by world classical and contemporary composers. In 2008 this ensemble won the first prize and the statue of 24th International Fajr music festival in Tehran and on March 2009 Nivak made its debut concert in Tehran Roudaki concert hall with performance of great duos for violin and cello by Kodaly, Ravel and Martinu. Nivak ensemble performed many concerts in Yerevan and Tehran and collaborated with various artists from Iran, Armenia, Czech Republic and Italy. Nivak premiered many compositions commissioned by this ensemble to Armenian, Iranian and Italian composers and In December 2016 premiered compositions by eleven Iranian and Italian contemporary composers such as Behzad Ranjbaran, Kiawash Sahebnassagh, Karen Keyhani, Mehdi Khayami, Alireza Farhang, Rouzbeh Rafie, Arshia Samsaminia, Idin Samimi Mofakham, Amin Honarmand, Paolo Longo and Alessandro Solbiati who have written duets for Nivak Ensemble or Golriz and Zhabiz Zarbakhsh and most of these compositions have experienced their world premiere. In May 2017 this Ensemble also performed works by Iranian contemporary composers such as Fozie Majd and Arsalan Abedian along side with other Iranian contemporary composers at the 2nd Tehran international contemporary music festival. So far, Nivak Ensemble has been published two albums respectively in autumn 2015 "Duos for Violin and Cello" by Ravi publishing company and in winter 2019 "Dialogue" by Mahour Institute of Culture and Art.

Biographies

Golriz Zarbakhsh started learning the violin from an early age and graduated from Tehran girl’s music school in the field of violin with Arsalan Kamkar and later continued her studies with Ebrahim Lotfi. She completed her Master’s degree in 2007 and later in 2011 her Post-graduate in the field of violin with Professor Victor Khachatryan in Yerevan state conservatory of music named after Komitas in Armenia. She is the prize winner of several National and International music festivals, such as: 12th National Fajr music festival in 1997 honored diploma, 14th International Fajr music festival in 1999 first prize, 2nd National youth music festival in 2001 first prize, 3rd student’s music festival in 2000 second prize, 4th student’s music festival in 2001 first prize, 24th International Fajr music festival in 2008 first prize as the founder of Nivak Ensemble, 8th International Renaissance contest-festival in 2016 laureate first degree. She has also performed in the section of brilliant talents in 29th and 30th International Fajr music festival in 2014 and 2015 in Tehran. She has performed Iran’s premier of compositions such as Eugene Ysaye's "Solo Sonata No.4", Pietro Locatelli's "Sonata in the Cemetery" arranged by Eugene Ysaye, Maurice Ravel's "Tzigane Rhapsody ", Radion Shchedrin's "In the Style of Albeniz", Fritz Kreisler's "Recitativo and Scherzo - Caprice", "Anast" by Kiawash Sahebnassagh, Sonata for Violin Solo by Arash Teymourian, "Three Pieces for Violin Solo" by Pouyan Naderi and also renowned duets for violin and cello such as Zoltan Kodaly, Maurice Ravel, Bohuslav Martinu , Reinhold Gliere, Erwin Schulhoff, and numerous works by contemporary Iranian, Armenian and Italian composers. In December 2016 as a member of Nivak Ensemble she premiered duets for violin and cello written by nine Iranian and two Italian contemporary composers such as Behzad Ranjbaran, Kiawash Sahebnassagh, Karen Keyhani, Mehdi Khayami, Alireza Farhang, Rouzbeh Rafie, Arshia Samsaminia, Idin Samimi Mofakham, Amin Honarmand, Paolo Longo and Alessandro Solbiati which most of them dedicated to Nivak Ensemble or Golriz and Zhabiz Zarbakhsh. In May 2017 she also premiered works by Iranian contemporary composers Fozie Majd and Arsalan Abedian along side with other Iranian contemporary composers at the 2nd Tehran international contemporary music festival. Golriz also has considerable teaching experience at Tehran University of Art, University of TV and Radio and Tehran girl's music school.

Zhabiz Zarbakhsh started learning the piano from an early age and after entry to Tehran girl’s music school started learning the cello and graduated in that field under the guidance of Davood Jafari Omid. She completed her Master’s degree in 2007 and later in 2011 her Post-graduate in the field of cello with Doctor Armen Messropyan in Yerevan state conservatory of music named after Komitas in Armenia. She participated in some National and International music festivals, such as: 14th International Fajr music festival in 1999 honored diploma, 2nd National youth music festival in 2001 honored diploma for the success in cello playing, 24th International Fajr music festival in 2008 the first prize as the member of Nivak Ensemble, 8th International Renaissance contest-festival in 2016 laureate first degree. She has also performed in the section of brilliant talents in 29th and 30th International Fajr music festival in 2014 and 2015 in Tehran. She has performed Iran’s premiere of compositions for cello such as Aram Khachaturian's "Sonata Fantasy", Alfred Schnittke's "Improvisation", Gaspar Cassado's "Suite for Cello Solo", Arash Teymourian's "Sonata for cello and piano", Pedram Shekari's "Piece for cello and piano", "Menidan" by Kiawash Sahebnassagh, "Sonata for cello and piano" by Rebecca Ashughian and also renowned duets for violin and cello such such as Zoltan Kodaly, Maurice Ravel, Bohuslav Martinu, Reinhold Gliere, Erwin Schulhoff and numerous works by contemporary Iranian, Armenian and Italian composers. In December 2016 as a member of Nivak Ensemble she premiered duets for violin and cello written by nine Iranian and two Italian contemporary composers such as Behzad Ranjbaran, Kiawash Sahebnassagh, Karen Keyhani, Mehdi Khayami, Alireza Farhang, Rouzbeh Rafie, Arshia Samsaminia, Idin Samimi Mofakham, Amin Honarmand, Paolo Longo and Alessandro Solbiati which most of them dedicated to Nivak Ensemble or Golriz and Zhabiz Zarbakhsh. In May 2017 she also premiered works by Iranian contemporary composers Fozie Majd and Arsalan Abedian along side with other Iranian contemporary composers at the 2nd Tehran international contemporary music festival. Zhabiz has teaching experience at Tehran University of Art as well.