I was born in Tehran, the vibrant capital of Iran, a city steeped in rich cultural heritage and artistic tradition. Growing up there provided me with a deep appreciation for music and the arts.

Gelareh Pour

Gelareh Pour. Photo © Sung Hyun Sohn

Music was a significant part of my upbringing. From traditional Persian music to Western classical and contemporary genres, our home was always filled with diverse sounds and melodies. My father also regularly took me to different concerts.

My mum was a Persian miniature painter and she knew lots of amazing artists. I remember going to her friend’s house and sitting next to her at the piano while she played a very famous Persian piece by Rouhollah Khaleghi. I think that was the first time music thoroughly touched my heart. I had never heard anything more beautiful and started crying. For years, hearing piano live made me cry. At first, this was embarrassing, but I got used to it and now I don’t hold back any emotions that music makes me feel. 

When I was seven, a friend mentioned they were taking music lessons outside of school. I was fascinated and asked my...