Hengameh Akhavan

Hengameh Akhavan (1955 - ) is a prominent Iranian female singer. She was born in Fuman, which is in the Gīlān Province of Iran, and is the youngest child of her family. Her whole family is blessed with beautiful singing voices, but only Hengameh became a professional singer. She started singing at the age of ten. She learned "Avaz-e Dashti" (One of the modes in Iranian modal system of music) from her father. Hengameh and her brother were also members of their school singing group.

Her father used to tell her about Ghamar and Ruhangiz (preeminent female Iranian female singers) and he would always encourage her to sing. Hengameh admired Ghamar not only for her beautiful singing voice but also for her benevolence.

After finishing elementary school, Hengameh went to Tehran to visit her sister and other relatives. During her stay, Hengameh was encouraged by her sister and brother-in-law to stay in Tehran to continue her musical training and studies. She agreed to this and stayed in Tehran.

Hengameh auditioned for the Iranian national radio to become a singer. She sent in a recording of her singing one of the compositions of Ostad (master) Tajvidi and the melodies that her father had taught her in a cassette. The selection panel consisted of five members, all of whom were renowned musicians: Ali Tajvidi, Morteza Hannaneh, Habib Allah Badiee, Javad Maroufi, and Fallah. Three of those five accepted her, but the other two requested that she have another audition, which she did. Hengameh was still denied a chance at performing on the radio because she didn’t have a sufficient knowledge of the radif (Iranian modal system of music). However, Hengameh enrolled in the radif classes of the Iranian national radio soon after this. Upon her completion of those classes, she had another audition and was finally accepted.

After receiving some kind encouragement from Ostad Ali Tajvidi, Hengameh began attending the class of Ostad Adib Khansari – a renowned Persian vocalist – in the Esfahan school. At those classes, she learned the radif and a gamut of the techniques of Persian vocal music. Ebrahim Sarkhosh, a prominent tar player at that time, was also attending Ostad Khansari’s lessons to help the students with their vocals.

Hengameh continued her studies with Ostad Adib Khansari for about ten years (1972-1982). The classes were originally located in the Iranian national radio offices, but they were later moved to his home until Ostad Khansari’s death in 1982.

She began singing for Radio in 1975 while collaborating with the Shayda, Aref, and Samai Ensembles, recreating the works of Ghamar. Hengameh was invited to collaborate with the Archive of Iranian national Radio and TV in 1984. She has performed many concerts in Iran and Europe.

Hengameh currently teaches vocal music. According to Nasrollah Nasehpoor, "Hengameh Akhavan is one of the best female singers of Iran. She is the second Ghamar."