Keyan Emami is an award-winning composer and educator based in Toronto, Canada. Keyan’s music is known for its contemporary tonal language and innovative sonic texture, frequently inspired by Persian music and art heritage. His works has been commissioned, performed, and recorded all over the world by many different organizations, festivals, and orchestras such as National Ballet of Canada, What Next Festival of New Music, Nuit Blanche Toronto, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto Tirgan Festival, Canadian Music Centre, Fountain School of Performing Arts, Ton Beau String Quartet, Millar Piano Duo, Ladom Ensemble, Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra, ICOT Orchestra, Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Toronto.

Keyan recently completed his doctorate in music at the University of Toronto. He holds a B.Eng. in Polymer Engineering, and an M.Mus. in Music Composition with first-degree honor, and was awarded the Best Master’s Thesis Prize for his Symphony in Three Movements. His major studies have been with Christos Hatzis, Alexander Rapoport, and Norbert Palej.

Keyan is the artistic director, co-founder, and one of the composers of ICOT, a nonprofit art organization that bridges cultures through music and art, and produced over forty new works since its inception in 2011. He holds the positions of the founder, educator, and director of Key Music Studio. Keyan is also an Associate Composer at the Canadian Music Centre, a Member of the Canadian League of Composers as well as a SOCAN member. 

If you are a musician, producer—or simply a music-lover—consider commissioning me to write a new work for your next recital, concert, tour, short or feature film, animation, game, or for a special occasion (e.g. wedding, anniversary, birthday); I welcome proposals of any size—even a one-minute piano piece. Funding can come from public or private sources. Please refer to the commissioning rates recommended by the Canadian League of Composers to determine fees. To find out more about the commissioning process or to explore an idea you may have, send me an email.