Māhbānoo Ensemble

Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, women in Iran have been barred from making music and especially from singing, with the result that women are severely underrepresented in the musical landscape there. The Māhbānoo Ensemble was founded in 2011 through the initiative of Majid Derakhshāni, an important master of traditional Persian music. The all-female ensemble is dedicated to the cultivation and performance of traditional Persian music. The founding of the ensemble is an expression of Derakhshani's concern to support women in Iran in their musical activities and to make them visible in society.
After the Māhbānoo Ensemble released its first music video featuring the vocals of Sahar Mohammadi and Hoorvash Khalili in 2014, the female musicians faced official restrictions for two years. Ultimately, they were banned from leaving the country and working for two years.  
In 2018, the Māhbānoo Ensemble toured Europe for the first time, performing in Sweden, Norway and England. In 2019, the formation played concerts in Europe again, this time in Germany and Holland.
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic temporarily ended the musicians' concert activities. Now, shortly before the twelfth anniversary of the ensemble's founding, Māhbānoo has embarked on another European tour.
Since its foundation, the core of the ensemble has been formed by the musicians Sarā Rezazādeh (tār), Shivā Ahmadisepehr (oud), Hannāneh Saeidi (qānun) and Nazanin Ghanizadeh (kamāncheh).