Nowruz (the Iranian New Year) is celebrated at SOAS with live music from trad-folk musicians Peyman Heydarian (santur, daf) and Ewan Macdonald (violin).

Nowruz (Persian: نوروز‎‎ Nowruz; literally "New Day") is the name of the Iranian New Year, also known as the Persian New Year, which is celebrated worldwide by the Iranian peoples, along with some other ethno-linguistic groups, as the beginning of the New Year.

It has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin and the Balkans. It marks the first day of the first month (Farvardin) in the Iranian calendar.

Nowruz is the day of the vernal equinox, and marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day, depending on where it is observed. The moment the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year, and families gather together to observe the rituals.

Although having Iranian and religious Zoroastrian origins, Nowruz has been celebrated by people from diverse ethno-linguistic communities for thousands of years. It is a secular holiday for most celebrants that is enjoyed by people of several different faiths, but remains a holy day for Zoroastrians.

More about Peyman Heydarian
Born in Shiraz, Iran, Peyman Heydarian (پیمان حیدریان) is an award winning music scientist and santur performer. A computer scientist and musicologist, he adopted innovative tuning systems and performance techniques to play a multi-ethnic repertoire on Iranian santur (Hammered Dulcimer), and developed computer algorithms for the analysis of Persian musical signals. Peyman began learning music at the age of 5 and started teaching at the age of 8 and currently teaches santur performance and music technology courses at London universities. Peyman has established and presided over a number of musical societies and bands, including Music Association of Iranian Students and the National Iranian Student Orchestra. He is a graduate of Shiraz University, Tarbiat Modarres University and Queen Mary, University of London. He has toured the world with a multi-ethnic programme "The Voice of Santur", performing Persian, Kurdish, Greek, Armenian, Turkish and Ceilidh (Scottish & Irish) music since 2010.

Tickets: If you wish to reserve a place and pay at the door, please write to events.santur@yahoo.com, stating the names of all persons requiring tickets. Confirmation will be sent by return. Please note that all places must be booked in advance.

Venue: Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG