Santoor player and composer Atefeh Einali studied at the Art University of Tehran before embarking on a PhD in music composition at the University of Manchester, researching the creation of cross-cultural collaboration practices for use in compositional methodologies. She has worked with performers, composers and conductors across the Southbank Symphony Orchestra, CoMA London, Bridges Orchestra in Frankfurt and more. Additionally, she was Associate Composer for a scheme at nonclassical in 2022.
As part of the hcmf// 2024 shorts programme, Atefeh performed Indefinite dreams: I am alive!, an improvisational piece for santoor accompanied by film. Inspired by the works of Meredith Monk and expanding on improvisational approaches to traditional Iranian music, her performance explored the theme of the ‘bed’ as her only home as a migrant. An accompanying film, created by Yorkshire-based artist Nikta Mohammadi, complemented this meditation on the ‘bed’ as a home for dreams, desires and losses.