Composing Legacy in a Different Key

Pourya Khadem is a composer and pianist, born in 1999 in Mashhad. He is the son of Rasoul Khadem, an Olympic gold medalist and former head coach of freestyle wrestling team . Despite his family’s deep roots in wrestling, Pourya was introduced to music at a young age. His father, Rasoul, who was trained by his father Mohammad Khadem, chose to guide him toward music rather than wrestling, enrolling him in piano lessons at the age of five. Pourya’s compositions often blend contemporary classical music with Persian microtonal traditions, showcasing his innovative approach to music.