Mina Oftadeh (born July 7, 1954 / 16 Tir 1333 in Tehran) is an Iranian santur player, music educator, researcher, and composer. She is considered one of the prominent figures in Iranian classical music, particularly recognized for her contributions to santur performance, music education, and the development of educational resources in Iranian music.

Early Life and Education

Mina Oftadeh was born on July 7, 1954, in Tehran, Iran, into a family with strong musical interests. Her older brother, Mohsen Oftadeh, was a bassoon player in the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, and her sister, Mino Oftadeh, played the kamancheh. Growing up in such an artistic environment played an important role in shaping her early interest in music.

In 1964, at the age of ten, she was admitted to the National Conservatory of Music (Honarestan-e Musiqi-ye Melli), where she began her formal musical education. She later completed her studies and received a Bachelor’s degree in Santur Performance in 1976.

During her education, she studied under several distinguished Iranian composers and musicians. Among her teachers were Arfa Atarai, Mohammad Heydari, Hossein Dehlavi, Mahmoud Karimi, Farhad Fakhreddini, Mostafa Kamal Pourtorab, Shahin Farhat, Parviz Mansouri, and Ahmad Pejman.

After graduating, Oftadeh continued her advanced training and spent ten years studying the techniques and performance practice of the Iranian classical repertoire (Radif) under the renowned santur master Faramarz Payvar. This period significantly influenced her artistic style and pedagogical approach.

In 2004, she was awarded the First-Class Artistic Degree Certificate by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Iran, recognizing her professional achievements in the field of music.

Artistic and Professional Activities

Throughout her career, Mina Oftadeh has been active in performance, teaching, research, and music evaluation. She has collaborated with several prominent ensembles and orchestras while also contributing significantly to music education in Iran.

Her major artistic and professional activities include:

• Collaboration with the Saba Orchestra, conducted by Hossein Dehlavi
• Collaboration with the Women’s Orchestra led by Ofelia Partow
• Collaboration with the National Instruments Ensemble directed by Faramarz Payvar
• Collaboration with the Tombak Ensemble led by Mohammad Esmaeili
• Collaboration with the Sheida Ensemble, directed by Mohammad-Reza Lotfi (1984)
• Performing concerts both inside Iran and internationally
• Leading the National Instruments Ensemble affiliated with the Jeunesses Musicales Association of Iran
• Teaching at the Music Conservatory since 1972
• Teaching at the Children and Youth Music Workshop Center affiliated with the National Radio and Television Organization
• Serving as a jury member of the Fajr Music Festival (1995–1998 and 2008)
• Serving as a jury member of the National Youth Music Festival
• Member of the Technical Council of the Girls’ Music Conservatory (1993–2010)
• Member of the curriculum development committee for textbooks on the theoretical foundations and structure of Iranian music

These activities demonstrate her influential role not only as a performer but also as an educator and contributor to the institutional development of Iranian music education.

Works

In addition to her performances and teaching, Mina Oftadeh has been active in writing, compiling, and publishing educational and research materials, especially related to the santur and Iranian classical music repertoire.

Album

• “Maktab-e Esfahan” (The School of Isfahan)Directed by Mohammad-Reza Lotfi, 1984

Books and Publications

• Twelve Pishdaramads and Rengs

From the intermediate-level Tar and Setar Method by Hossein Alizadeh, with CD – Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, 2004

• Forty Pieces for Santur

With CD – Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, 2004

• Twenty Pieces for Santur

From works by Hossein Alizadeh, with CD – Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, 2005

• Theoretical Foundations and Structure of Iranian Music

Written by the Specialized Committee on Iranian Music Theory – Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance Press, 2007

• Theoretical Foundations of Iranian Music

Co-authored with Hossein Alizadeh, Houman Asadi, Ali Bayani, Mostafa Kamal Pourtorab, and Sasan Fatemi – Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, 2009

• 33 Pieces for Santur from the Works of Iranian Masters

With CD – Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, 1999

• The Radif of Abolhasan Saba for Left-Tuned Santur

Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, 2011

• Peyvand (Connection)

Pieces by Faramarz Payvar – Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, 2011

• Intermediate Radif for Santur

With CD – Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, 2013

• Goftogu (Dialogue)

Duets by Faramarz Payvar, with CD – Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, 2015

• Haft Peykar and Traditional Rengs of Master Payvar

Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, 2016

• Songs of Faramarz Payvar

Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, 2017

Awards and Honors

Mina Oftadeh has received several honors and recognitions for her contributions to music performance, education, and research.

Some of her notable recognitions include:

• First-Class Artistic Degree Certificate from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (2004)
• Certificate of Appreciation at the Third Avaye Mehr Festival for her research in music
• Honored at the Third “Sal-e Nava-ye Musiqi-ye Iran” (Year of Iranian Music Sound) Ceremony on November 25, 2017, receiving the Sal-e Nava statue and certificate of appreciation
• Honored during the 19th Anniversary Ceremony of the Iran Music House on January 26, 2019, receiving a commemorative statue and certificate of appreciation