Iran’s First Female Conductor Leads Tehran Symphony

In a historic first for Iran, 42-year-old Paniz Faryousefi has taken the podium to lead the Tehran Symphony Orchestra.

Faryousefi, born in Iran and trained as a violinist, later refined her craft at the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan. Over the years, she has performed with numerous ensembles, worked as a concertmaster, and even founded her own string quartet, The Caspian Post informs via Kazakh media.

اولین زن رهبر ارکستر سمفونیک در ایران
«پانیذ فریوسفی»
اجرای نخست در تالار رودکی(وحدت) pic.twitter.com/x7Yb3CqMlM

— Sadra (@HajNooredin) November 13, 2025

Her achievement is especially significant given the restrictions women have faced in Iran’s arts sector since the 1979 Islamic Revolution - including bans on solo female singing before mixed audiences and limited access to key cultural positions.

The landmark performance marks a symbolic moment for representation in Iran’s classical music scene.

Earlier, Astana hosted a concert celebrating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, highlighting the power of music in fostering global cooperation.