About Armin Sanayei

Armin Sanayei (b. 1992, Tehran, Iran) is an Iranian composer based in Vienna, Austria.

His music has been performed at Wiener Konzerthaus and Wiener Musikverein, featured on BBC Radio 3, and presented by ensembles including Alban Berg Ensemble Wien, Philharmonix Ensemble, Reconsil Ensemble Wien, Ensemble Fractales,  Max Brand Ensemble, and the Hugo Wolf Quartett. His works have also been performed in concert series and festivals including the Wiener Symphoniker Konzertzyklus, Grafenegg Festival, BERGfest, Festival 4020 (Linz), Sînn Festival (Bucharest), and Wien Modern.

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Among his notable works are Elegy, premiered by the Philharmonix Ensemble at Wiener Konzerthaus, String Quartet No. 1, premiered by Alban Berg Ensemble Wien at Wiener Musikverein, and his Clarinet Quintet, developed in collaboration with members of the Hugo Wolf Quartett.

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Sanayei was a three-time candidate (2018–2020) for the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation Composer's Prize.

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He studied composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW) with Martin Lichtfuss, Judith Varga, Clara Iannotta, and Detlev Müller-Siemens. Prior to his studies in Vienna, he received extensive private training in composition from Ahmad Pejman and studied Iranian music with Fariborz Rostami.

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Alongside his compositional work, Sanayei teaches at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW) and previously taught at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.