[custom_adv] Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (born 23 September 1940, Mashhad) is an internationally and critically acclaimed classical singer, composer and Ostad (master) of traditional music. [custom_adv] He has been called greatest living maestro of classical music. Shajarian is also known for his skills in calligraphy, and humanitarian activities. [custom_adv] Shajarian was born in Mashhad, and started singing at the age of five, under the supervision of his father. At the age of twelve, he began studying the traditional classical repertoire known as the Radif. [custom_adv] Shajarian started his singing career in 1959 at Radio Khorasan, rising to prominence in the 1960s with his distinct style of singing. His main teachers were Ahmad Ebadi, Esmaeil Mehrtash, Abdollah Davami, and Nour-Ali Boroumand. [custom_adv] He also learned the vocal styles of singers from previous generations, including Reza Gholi Mirza Zelli, Fariborz Manouchehri, Ghamar Molouk Vaziri, Eghbal Azar, and Taj Isfahani. [custom_adv] He has cited legendary tar musician Jalil Shahnaz as highly influential to his development, indicating that he has often tried to mimic Shahnaz's playing style in his singing. [custom_adv] He is recognised as skilled singer in the challenging traditional Dastgah style. In 1999 UNESCO in France presented him with the Picasso Award and in 2006 with the UNESCO Mozart Medal.
