Omid Shayan

"Omid's music brings to life his experiences as an Iranian-Australian migrant growing up in Melbourne. His musics hints at his roots and he plays contemporary jazz sax of very high quality." -ROSS NABLE, PRESENTER OF IMPRESSIONS ON PBS 106.7FM

Omid Shayan is a tenor saxophonist and composer based in Melbourne, Australia who works at the intersection of jazz and musical practices from around the world. He grew up listening to a diverse range of music with influences ranging from Iranian folk, jazz, pop and classical music, all of which influence the music he performs and composes today. He has a very strong focus on community and the power that collective music making can have on people. From 2013-2019, He was composer and Musical Director of The Krysalis Project, a community run big-band of over twenty members of all ages played a music ranging from classic big-band to contemporary original compositions. The aim of the group was to give enthusiastic amateur musicians the opportunity to rehearse together and learn the basics of improvisation. The band rehearsed weekly and played gigs at community events.

From 2019-2022 he was conductor and Musical Director of Orkeztra Glasso Bashalde, an inclusive world music ensemble supporting Darebin-based musicians in developing musicianship and performance skills, and promote increased cultural awareness in the community through performances of music from different regions with particular emphasis on the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Omid has undergraduate degrees in Commerce and Information Systems (Melbourne University, 2004) and Music (Melbourne Polytechnic, 2012) where he studied saxophone under the tutelage of Melbourne greats Julien Wilson, Tony Hicks, Bruce Sandell and Carlo Barbaro.

Omid regularly performs in a variety of groups and leads two ensembles, SHAYAN and SnaJ.

He was awarded first prize in the Victoria-wide Darebin Music Festival Composition Competition for the creation and presentation of his large ensemble piece "Ahange Gus" in 2014.

In 2020, Omid received a Creative Victoria grant for the creation of a new set of music with SHAYAN in collaboration with the electronic string duo ‘Melbourne Amplified Strings’.

In 2021, he was one of 15 recipients of the ABC Jazz Composer Commission Fund, to compose and record music that blends Iranian melodies and rhythm with contemporary jazz harmony and form.

In 2022, he was awarded a mentorship with the Australian Art Orchestra, to explore the intersection of acoustic and electronic music.

Omid has been involved in music education for over fifteen years and has taught individuals and groups of all ages and abilities. He currently teaches clarinet, saxophone, piano and flute at Merri Creek Primary School as well as teaching privately in his studio in Preston, Victoria.

Discography:

SHAYAN EP (2014)

Sounds From Cross Street (SHAYAN, 2019)

Living in the Machine (SHAYAN and Melbourne Amplified Strings, 2022)

The Heart is A Candle (SHAYAN as part of the ABC Jazz Comission, 2022)