Sahba Aminikia
Sahba Aminikia is an Iranian American composer, improvisor, educator, TED Fellow, and 2025 Aga Khan Music Award laureate based in San Francisco. Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “an artist singularly equipped to provide a soundtrack to these unsettling times,” he creates music that bridges contemporary classical practice, Persian poetic traditions, and social impact. His works have been performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, SFJAZZ, and other major venues by artists and ensembles including Kronos Quartet, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, San Francisco Girls Chorus, ZOFO Duet, and The Living Earth Show. He is the founder and artistic director of the Flying Carpet Festival, serving children displaced by war and conflict.