TEHRAN -- The winners of the 23rd Fajr International Music Festival were announced here on Saturday in a ceremony held at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall.

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Hossein Saffar Harandi, Culture Deputy for Artistic Affairs Mohammad-Hossein Imani Khoshkhu, head of the Music Office Mohammad-Hossein Ahmadi and a group of artists attended the gala’s closing ceremony.
Tribute was paid to musicians Loris Cheknavorian, Majid Entezami and Shahram Nazeri before the presentation of the awards.
Forty-two groups competed in the national section, 23 from Tehran and 19 from other cities in three different sections.
In the traditional and fusion sections, the Bahman Orchestra conducted by Rasul Qapani won first prize, the “Rojan” band from Sanandaj led by Rashed Babashahabi won second prize, and Tehran’s “Javan” band led by Mohammad-Ali Kianinejad won third prize.
“Trio Piano” conducted by Tigran Mesrubian was awarded first prize in the classical music section, “Passargad Chorus” conducted by Amir-Abbas Hosseini won second prize and “Aria Chorus” conducted by Hengameh Azimi took third prize.
In the pop section, first prize remained unawarded; “Aksan” band led by Behrang Bahadorzadeh was awarded second prize and “Orkideh” band led by Orkideh Hajivandi won third prize.
In addition, Ehsan Abdipur, sorna player (a type of Persian horn) and Farshad Seifi, kamancheh player from the “Falakolaflak” band, singer Amin Boheirani and Masud Najafi santur player from the “Navaye Mokhalef” band, as well as singers Mohammad Qayyum-Amini, Vahid Jani and Jamshid Azizikhani were honored during the ceremony.
In the national competition section, the jury members of the traditional and fusion sections were Davud Ganjeii, Mohammad Sarir, Dariush Pirniakan and Arfa Torabi.
In the classical music section, Shahin Farhat, Akbar Mohammadi and Soheil Dehbasti were the jury members.
The pop section jury comprised Ali Tafreshi, Mohammadreza Cheraghali and Keivan Kiaras.
The 23rd edition of the Fajr International Music Festival was held in Tehran from December 21 until 29.
Caption: Composer Majid Entezami opens his arms to give a hug to his father Ezzatollah Entezami during the awards presentation ceremony of the 23rd Fajr International Music Festival at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on December 29. Majid Entezami received the festival’s lifetime achievement award from his father. Culture Minister Mohammad-Hossein Saffar Harandi (second from L) and Deputy Culture Minister for Artistic Affairs Mohammad-Hossein Imani Khoshkhu (first from L) are also seen in the picture. (Mehr/Azin Zanjani)