Jazmourian Ensemble
Jazmourian Ensemble was formed in 2019 by two musicians, from Iran and Australia, who were inspired by the question, “What do the music of the east and west have in common?” Malek Mohammadi Nejad, a setar master native to Iran, together with Anna McDonald, an internationally renowned baroque violinist who now plays the kamancheh, created their new idea of an ensemble while travelling together in Iran and Armenia for three years. Their music was inspired by the mountains and deserts of these ancient lands, and by the old Persian idea of music – that it is a sacred conversation between friends. In 2021 they recorded their first CD of music, “Karavankosh”: four original compositions written for the unusual but beautiful combination of Iranian setar and kamancheh.
They continue to compose in their new home town of Canberra, Australia, where a sacred land is inhabited by old and new peoples. On October 13th, 2024 they are presenting their debut concert at the Ainslie Arts Centre, in which they will share the music of Karavankosh and new compositions for setar, shurangiz and kamancheh.
About Us
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Malek Mohammadi Nejad
Malek, a native of the Kerman Province of Iran, has family roots in Kurdish and Turkish culture as well as Persian, making him fascinated by ethnic music and culture. He studied music with ethnic masters in many areas of Iran, and is an international composer and performer. His music is based on ancient musical practices of Iran, brought into the present day. He was principle advisor in Anna McDonald’s PhD at the Australian National University.
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Anna McDonald
Anna’s musical journey on her first instrument, the violin, has led her to performances in Europe, North and South America, Scandinavia, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, South Africa and her native country, Australia. After post-graduate study with David Takeno at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, she became a baroque violinist based in London for ten years. Leading the Gabrieli Consort and Players, Hanover Band and Avison Ensemble, she has been concertmaster and soloist in many recordings for Deutsche Grammophon Archiv, CPO, Channel Classics, Harmonia Mundi, and ABC Classics in Australia. In 2018 she had a composer’s residency at Golden Vale, Sutton Forest, supported by the Prelude Residency program of the Bundanon Trust.
She brings her vast experience in baroque repertoire and style to playing and composing on the Iranian kamancheh, an instrument she studied for three years in Iran and Armenia with Mohammadi Nejad, an Iranian music master. Anna has documented her intercultural journey with the kamancheh through the lens of Mithraism and Zoroastrianism in a PhD granted by the Australian National University (ANU). She now convenes “Women in Music” and teaches violin and chamber music at the ANU School of Music, and is an experienced performance coach.
This is a new creative space from an encounter between two musicians from east and west. We believe that our worlds are reflected in each other, and that by bridging the past and the future we create an enchanted world in the present.
