About Edris
Vocal Coach, Opera Singer
Edris Foroughi is a music educator, vocal coach, composer, opera singer and multi-instrumentalist.
Edris’ background is in Iranian traditional and folklore music. He was born in a talented and music lover family. He chose Santoor (hammered dulcimer) to learn, when he was 12. He was a pupil of master Reza Shafieian for five years. Beside learning Iranian tradition music system (Dastgah), he learned some traditional folklore and traditional songs by himself. When he was 16, he was invited to Chakavak traditional ensemble, founded by master Sarkoob, a well-known instructor of Iranian traditional singing. Because of Foroughi's talent and knowledge in music and his leadership, he has been chosen as the leader for the ensemble's concerts during that time.
On the same time, since he was very eager to discover more in music, he took music theory and harmony courses with Alireza Shafaghinejad. The next year, He was invited to become a member of master Mohammad Nouri’s choir (later known as Iran Philharmonic Choir), when he was 17. He was the youngest member of the choir at the time. Edris had the chance to learn more about Western classical music by singing in Nouri’s choir under Mr. Shafaghinejad leadership. He ,as a chorister, benefited from performing with the Noori’s choir in famous performing halls in Iran like Roudaki, Vahdat and Milad hall. Also being part of Mohamad Nouri’s concerts, and working with maestro Tjeknavorian in 250th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s birth gave him a solid base of classical music.
After moving to the United states, Foroughi got his second bachelor’s in Music studies and his Master degree in Vocal Arts. During his studies at CSUN, he became the president of Iranian student association at California State University, Northridge.
Edris has also performed as soloist in Hayden’s Creation, with Moorpark College orchestra, several main roles in different operas, such as Merry wives of Windsor, Orpheus in the Underworld and Don Giovani, performed with CSUN’s orchestra. He also performed as a lead singer in Iranian events, hold in famous halls in Los Angeles, like Dolby theater, Saban theater and Gindi hall.
He founded Ava Choir, the first and the only Persian choir in Los Angeles, with amateur singers. He shaped the choir and trained the participants from fundamental music theory, sight singing (solfege)and vocal techniques. He also rearranged some of the Iranian folk songs in choir form, with simple harmonies to have easier harmonized farsi pieces for beginners.
Edris has also produced multiple podcasts and radio shows including “khane-ye khouban” in Radio Hamrah talking about Iranian folklore music and interviewing musicians, ethnologists and researchers.
Moreover, He has composed and produced more than hundred songs for movies and vocalists in different genres, such as pop, rock, fusion and Iranian traditional.
Ava quire officially started in 2018 with a call from Edris Foroughi as director, with the goal of directing the first persian speaking choir in America with the aim of teaching and directing the interested.Ava quire has 30 members .
- This group had their first performance at Mehregan celebration 2019 after eighteen months of practice.
- The Iranian community of Los Angeles was very supportive and the tickets were sold out.
- This was a great success for Ava and encouragement to continue the path.
- Their concert to celebrate Norooz 2020 at CSUN university was canceled due to pandemic.
During pandemics they continued their activities online and were amongst first Iranian music groups that created music and video which was for online activities and gatherings and the only way of communication during pandemic. nbvc
In 2021 they were invited to UC SANTA BARBARA universities online Norooz celebration and performed a few musical pieces and at the same time worked closely with Farhang foundation in Los Angeles by creating and performing Spring music and videos.
After the pandemic they had a live performance in Farhang foundations spectacular Norooz celebration in 2022 with over 20,000 people in attendance where they performed Norooz and Spring musical pieces.