Pouria Khadem, born in 1999 in Mashhad, is a rising composer and pianist who has chosen to carve out a unique path in the world of classical music, diverging from his family’s prestigious legacy in wrestling. He is the son of Rasoul Khadem, a revered Olympic gold medalist and former head coach of national freestyle wrestling team, and the grandson of Mohammad Khadem, one of legendary wrestling coaches. Coming from such a family, many assumed Pouria would naturally follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Instead, he embraced the world of music—a bold and defining choice.
Although he grew up in a household where wrestling was a way of life, Pouria was introduced to music at a young age. Encouraged by his father, who understood the value of personal expression beyond the mat, Pouria began studying piano at the age of five. His parents nurtured his talent, recognizing that greatness could take many forms. As he matured, Pouria explored the deeper structures of music composition and theory, studying under prominent and international musicians. His influences are a fusion of Western classical traditions and Persian modal music, resulting in a sound that is distinctly his own.
