Behnam Khodarahmi
Behnam Khodarahmi was born in the spring of 1980 into a musical family. At around the age of six, he began learning the accordion under the guidance of his father, Fazlollah Khodarahmi, a clarinettist. He entered a music conservatoire at the age of fifteen and completed his studies there four years later. He subsequently earned a bachelor’s degree in management, followed by a bachelor’s degree in music, both from the University of Applied Science and Technology in Tehran. He later received an MA in Creative Industries Futures from Middlesex University London.
Khodarahmi is a music researcher, composer, arranger, educator, author and multi-instrumentalist specialising in Persian classical music. He plays the accordion, piano, kamancheh and Persian percussion instruments. He began working in Iranian television after being invited by composer Mohammad Mirzamani to contribute to composition and arrangement in its music department.
He has since contributed to numerous musical works as a composer, arranger, instrumentalist and recording supervisor. His professional experience also includes composition, arrangement and music production for international media organisations such as ZDF in Germany, Channel 4 in the United Kingdom and Radio Mirchi in India. He has composed instrumental music and performed concerts in Iran and abroad.
Throughout his career, Khodarahmi has worked alongside and gained experience from prominent Iranian musicians and composers such as Parviz Yahaghi, Asadollah Malek, Homayoun Khorram, Farhang Sharif, Fazlollah Tavakol, Mojtaba Mirzadeh and Fereydoun Shahbazian, among others. He has also collaborated with singers such as Akbar Golpayegani, known as Golpa; Hossein Khajeh Amiri, known as Iraj; Alireza Eftekhari; Bahram Hassiri; Mohammad Motamedi; and Ehsan Khajeh Amiri, among others.
Behnam and his brother, Behzad Khodarahmi, have worked professionally for many years to promote and develop Persian classical music, with a particular emphasis on the Iranian dastgah tradition.
Khodarahmi’s research explores how people from different cultural backgrounds listen to music, respond to it emotionally and develop musical meaning. His research interests include cross-cultural music, Persian classical music, music psychology, music-induced emotion, empirical aesthetics, digital listening environments, music rights and royalties, digital wellbeing, music therapy and music education. His work draws on mixed-methods research and brings together many years of musical practice and academic study.
He has published several books and research articles in both Persian and English. His writing covers music, sound, acoustics and the cultural dimensions of music and music therapy. His books include the two-volume Studio Nawazi, the novel Solo Symphony and a collection of children’s stories. His 2025 book IRAJ is an extensive analytical and aesthetic study of Iraj’s singing and artistic career.
Khodarahmi is a member of the Iranian Music House and the Iranian Musicians Union. His active international professional memberships include PRS for Music, the British Association for Music Therapy, the American Psychological Association, and the International Federation of Musicians.
