TEHRAN, Dec. 7 (Mehr News Agency) -- Jury member of the 23rd Fajr International Music Festival, Dariush Pirniakan believes that the participation of prominent Iranian musicians alongside first-class foreign bands would lend prestige to the event.

"The gala's organizers must try to win the trust of outstanding Iranian musicians and also provide a cultured atmosphere for foreign guests," he told Mehr News Agency.

He continued, saying, "A team of experts should be formed in advance to assess works by foreign musicians and select the highest quality performances each year."

He also criticized the festival's officials' unfair practice of setting aside the best concert facilities for foreign groups, while many Iranian talented musicians, residing in different regions of the country, never even get to make public performances.

"I believe that priority must first be given to our own young talented musicians," he concluded.

The 23rd edition of the Fajr International Music Festival will be held in Tehran from December 21 until 29.

Orkideh women's band to compete at Fajr festival

TEHRAN, Dec. 7 (Mehr News Agency) -- The women's pop music band Orkideh is to compete at the 23rd Fajr International Music Festival which will be held here from December 21 until 29.

"Orkideh and one other women's band will be competing alongside eight men's groups during the event," conductor of the band Orkideh Hajivandi told Fars News Agency.

She expressed her delight over the participation of the women's groups at the festival's 23rd edition and expressed her belief that it will encourage the formation of more such female music bands in the country.

"The Vahdat Hall has been allocated to women's performances at this year's gala and I hope the women's bands, as in previous years, do not encounter any problems," she added.

"The 9-member Orkideh band will stage 12 musical compositions at the Vahdat Hall on December 24," she announced.
 

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