TEHRAN -- The Sheida band conducted by setar and tar virtuoso Mohammadreza Lotfi is to perform a concert in Tehran in May 2008.

The Sheida band comprises three groups -- female, adult, and youth. Each section is to perform during the concert.
The adult group will play new compositions by Lotfi, the young people will perform pieces composed by musicians from the Qajar era, and the female band will be performing another collection of pieces by Lotfi.
The band has been practicing for about seven months under the supervision of their conductor.
Lotfi, who went to the U.S.A in 1986, and resided there for 18 years, performed widely throughout Asia, Europe, and North America during that time.
He returned to live in Iran in 2005 and gave a series of outdoor concerts in Tehran’s Sadabad Cultural Complex this summer, June 2007.