Atefeh Einali

Atefeh is one of eight composers selected for a place on the 2026 RPS Composers programme. This will culminate in her writing a new piece, commissioned by the RPS, for Music@Malling.

On this page, Atefeh introduces herself in her own words, and shares links to her music, her website, and her social media platforms. We warmly invite programmers and commissioners to take a closer look at Atefeh's work, and please be in touch with us if you would like to connect with her.

About Atefeh

‘My musical journey began in Tehran when I was eleven, learning the santoor through traditional Iranian teaching methods. Those early years shaped my connection to music and led me to study santoor at the Art University of Tehran. I then pursued a Master’s degree in composition, which opened a completely new world for me.

For the first time, I encountered Western classical composition techniques, so different from the traditions I had grown up with. This contrast made me think deeply about how Iranian musical elements could live within new compositions. Later, during my second Master’s degree at the University of Manchester, my focus shifted again as I explored how Iranian music could be expressed through Western notation rules for composition, with all its possibilities and limitations.

A key moment in my PhD came in June 2022, when I joined a residency run by Olympias Music Foundation. Playing santoor alongside musicians from different cultural backgrounds showed me the power of dialogue and collaboration. Since then, I’ve been less focused on blending Iranian materials into my work, and more interested in creating spaces where diverse voices can meet. Along the way, I’ve drawn inspiration from composers like Ahmad Pejman, Mehdi Hosseini, Bushra El-Turk, Meredith Monk, Chou Wen-Chung, and Lou Harrison.'

Highlights

  • Atefeh’s piece I Am From Nowhere will be performed in Germany at the 2025 Festival für Musik unserer Zeit in Karlsruhe, presented in a new arrangement.
  • In June 2025, Atefeh’s piece Fear was selected for the Intimacy of Creativity Festival at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. She joined them as a composer fellow, working in partnership with the Momenta Quartet in Hong Kong.
  • Across 2025, Atefeh is continuing work on her Collaborative Opera Lab, a research project funded by Arts Council England. This project focuses on the research and development phase of her first opera.
  • Atefeh’s piece No Moment Can Return was performed in February 2025 by the Manchester University Music Society Chamber Orchestra. The performance was a collaboration with visual artist Nikta Mohammadi, featuring an accompanying film.

Find out more

If you are interested in finding out more about Atefeh, hearing and and keeping up to date with her work, take a look at her website and social media below:

The RPS Composers programme could not happen without the support of RPS Members, PRS Foundation Talent Development Network supported by PPL, Delius Trust, Fidelio Charitable Trust, Garrick Charitable Trust, Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, Idlewild Trust, John Ellerman Foundation, Marchus Trust, Presteigne Festival, Radcliffe Trust, RPS Susan Bradshaw Composers' Fund, RPS Thea Musgrave Fund, Vaughan Williams Foundation, and several anonymous donors.