With great sorrow, I extend my condolences on the passing of Ahmad Pejman, the distinguished Iranian composer, to his family, the music community, and the people of Iran. He was one of the pioneers of Iranian music and among the first composers to step into the field of opera writing. In 1968, at the request of the Ministry of Culture and Arts, Ahmad Pejman created the enduring opera The Brave Sahand, a work whose premiere performance at Roudaki Hall was attended by His Majesty the Shah and myself.
Over the years, he left behind many valuable works, and a new generation of Iranian composers was trained and nurtured under his guidance. Although being away from one’s homeland is difficult for many artists devoted to Iran, it was a source of joy that last year UCLA honored Ahmad Pejman as one of the luminaries of Iranian music.
May his soul rest in peace, and may his memory be cherished.
