About Negar
Negar Ezazi is a professional Daf and percussion musician, international instructor, and founder of Viona Percussion. With over 17 years of experience in performance, education, and instrument production, she has performed across Iran, North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, collaborating with leading Iranian and international artists.
Her work focuses on Iranian percussion instruments, especially the Daf, alongside cajón, bendir, and handpan. In addition to her musical career, she is also a professional textile and music costume designer.
International Highlights – 2025
In 2025, Negar Ezazi performed as the principal percussionist in the international concert-show
“Cisad”, composed by Sohrab Pournazeri, across Canada, the United States,
Australia, and Europe. She performed daf, cajón, and handpan, led the rhythmic structure
of the ensemble, and opened selected performances with handpan solos.
The production featured renowned Iranian actors including Navid Mohammadzadeh,
Bahram Radan, Bahram Afshari, and Goher Kheirandish,
combining music, theatre, Persian literature, and contemporary social themes.
- Canada Tour: Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver – March 2025
- U.S. Tour: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, San Jose, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Boston, New York – April 2025
- Australia Tour: Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne – October 2025
- Europe Tour: Stockholm, Copenhagen, Zürich, Vienna, Munich, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Berlin – November 2025
She also performed as a percussionist with Pacific Symphony at
Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, California, conducted by
Carl St.Clair, in the Nowruz Concert organized by Farhang Foundation.Performed for an estimated audience of over 50,000 people across international tours in 2025.
EDUCATION
- Master of Science (MS), Restoration of cultural and historical objects (historical fabrics).
- Bachelor of Science (BS), Textile and cloth designing.
- Studying and playing Iranian traditional frame drum, “Daf” under supervision of Daf masters: Bijan Kamkar, Hossein Rezaeenia, and Ramin Rahimi, <2001 - 2008>.
- Studying and playing Iranian traditional hammered dulcimer, “Santur” for 6 years under supervision of Santur masters: Mohammadreza Fayyaz, Mohammad Azari, and Behnaz Zakeri, <1994 - 1999>.
- Completing a two-year music course (Carl Orff method) under supervision of Nazar brothers, <1992 - 1994>.
Work Experiences and Achievements
- Performing concerts with “Rastak” contemporary persian folk music ensemble in several countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and India, <2010 - 2017>.
- Performing concerts with “Rastak” contemporary persian folk music ensemble in multiple international music festivals in several countries: Poland, Georgia, Turkey, and Chile, <2010 - 2017>.
- Performing several concerts in the capital city of Tehran as well as other major cities across Iran with “Rastak” contemporary persian folk music ensemble, <2010 - 2017>.
- Performing several concerts in Iran’s prestigious “Fajr International Musical Festival” with “Rastak” contemporary persian folk music ensemble, Tehran, Iran, <2010 - 2017>.
- Collaborate with several composers, Amir Tavasoli for the “Shahrzad TV series”, Arya Aziminejad in the theme music of title sequence for “Asre Jadid” TV program, Behzad Abdi, and Mahyar Alizade.
- Concert performance with “Barbatian” music ensemble directed by Hossein Behroozinia at Vahdat Hall in Tehran, Iran, <2018>, and in the cities: Shiraz, Tabriz, and Mashhad, Iran, <2019>.
- Playing Daf in the new music album composed by “Hossein Behroozinia”.
- Concert performance with “Mehdi Jahani” music ensemble, Iran, <2019>.
- Concert performance with “Amir Jahed” music ensemble, Tehran, Iran, <2018 - 2019>.
- Concert performance with “Abidar” music ensemble directed by Bahram Saed in the city of Kermanshah, Iran, <2018>.
- Collaboration with “Azad” music ensemble directed by Davood Azad and performing concerts in Tehran, Tabriz, and Kerman cities, Iran, <2017 - 2018>.
- Performing concert with “Diare Mehr” music ensemble directed by Tahmoores Pournazeri, vocaled by Farshad Jamali, and conducted by Nader Mortezapour as the orchestra’s conductor, <2010 >.
- The cloth designer for “Rastak” contemporary persian folk music ensemble in their two recent albums, “Mian-e Khorshidhay-e Hamishe” and “Sornay-e Nowruz”, <2012 - 2017>.
- Awarded the certificate of appreciation and prize for the “best cloth” from the fashion committee of Iran’s prestigious “Fajr International Musical Festival” in recognition of designing the cloth for “Rastak” contemporary persian folk music ensemble, <2017>.
Professional Services and Affiliations
- Working as instructor of percussion instruments in several music academies, <2008 - Present>.
- Active member of Iran Association of Music (Khaney-e Moosighiy-e Iran).
- Running a workshop on the Iranian traditional frame drum, “Daf” and “Rhythmology”, Toronto, Canada, <2018> and in the cities: Ahvaz and Behshahr, Iran, <2019>.
- Running a workshop on the music instrument, “Cajón” at the “Pars plus” music school, Iran <2019>.
- Representative artist for HAPA company, <2017 - Present>. HAPA is a well-known brand specialized in producing high-performance drums and percussion instruments owned by masters: Pejman Hadadi, Bijan Kamkar, and Padouk Co. (Mohsen Farmani).
Summary of Recent Collaborations
- Collaboration with “Gardoon” music ensemble vocaled by Mojgan Shajarian and directed/composed by Azad Mirzapour in Termeh Musical Festival, Munich, Germany, <2020>.
- Playing in the concert, “Daf va Ney” vocaled by master, Bijan Kamkar and directed by Hossein Rezainia, <2020>.
- Playing Daf in the music album, “Sanam-e-Naahanjaar” composed by Ali Ghamsari, <2019>.
