TEHRAN -- Maestro Farhad Fakhreddini, who conducts the National and Mehrnavazan orchestras, was honored Thursday for his lifetime achievements in Iranian music.

A large number of his friends and colleagues, including Mohammad Sarir, Keyvan Saket, Salar Aqili and Loris Tjeknavorian, attended the ceremony organized by the Music Office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance at the Aseman Complex of the Iranian Academy of Arts in Tehran.

“There is a mutual affection between me and my colleagues and the reason is that I still learn many things from them,” 79-year-old Fakhreddini said during his short speech at the ceremony.

“I learned many things from my lifelong friend Ahmad Pejaman and I remember what a positive effect he had on me,” he added.

Fakhreddini composed music for many Iranian films and TV series. In 1998, he had founded the orchestra, which collaborated with many prominent Iranian musicians including vocalist Mohammadreza Shajarian.

In July 2009, he resigned after the Music Office decided under pressure from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance to hand over management of the orchestra to the Rudaki Foundation.

Consequently, the National Orchestra was almost dismantled. However, Fakhreddini founded an independent ensemble named the Mehrnavazan Orchestra in 2011 with the musicians who used to perform in the National Orchestra.

After the victory of Hassan Rouhani in the 2013 presidential election, Fakhreddini was assigned to reestablish the orchestra.

Music Office Director Piruz Arjmand and Iranian Music House Director Sarir also delivered speeches.

“This musician has even been able to properly recognize the musical taste of the Iranian audience and will promote Iran’s national music through his knowledge,” Sarir said.

Arjmand called Fakhreddini “a sage of Iran’s national music” and described his key role in music education at Iranian academic centers after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The ceremony ended with the unveiling of a new album by the Mehrnavazan Orchestra.

Photo: Farhad Fakhreddini (R) acknowledges the audience during a ceremony the Music Office held in Tehran on May 28, 2015 to honor the maestro. (Mehr/Mohammad Khodabakhsh)

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