TEHRAN -- Musician Fereidun Shahbazian has been appointed as the new Conductor of Iran’s National Orchestra.

The appointment was announced by Ali-Akbar Safipur, the managing director of Iran’s Rudaki Foundation on Tuesday.

“Members of the High Council of Iran’s House of Music, including Mohammad Sarir, Davud Ganjei and Hamid Shahangian, made the decision in a meeting held on Monday,” Safipur told the Persian service of ISNA. 

Former conductor of Iran’s National Orchestra Farhad Fakhreddini, who founded the orchestra in 1998, resigned from his position on September 7, 2016 over a lack of cooperation from the officials.

“We also held talks with Fakhreddini, but he had decided to quit and we appointed Shahbazian,” Safipur remarked.

He added that with the new programs presented by Shahbazian, good performances are expected in the future.

Shahbazian is a graduate of the Faculty of the Fine Arts of the University of Tehran. He has been the conductor of the Radio Symphony Orchestra and has cooperated with singers such as Mohammadreza Shajarian and Nader Golchin.

Fakhreddini had mentioned in his letter of resignation that the officials did not address requirements concerning the orchestra.

He had also lamented over the lack of pay for the musicians of the orchestra.

RM/YAW