Kimia Hesabi
Dr. Kimia Hesabi is a violist, educator, and administrator currently residing in the D.C area. Hesabi is the the Co-Director of Learning and Engagement at the National Philharmonic, where she co-creates programs, opportunities, and community initiatives that are centered around artistic, educational, and social impact.
Kimia is an active performer in the USA and has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra musician in various prestigious concert halls across the country as well as her home country, Iran. A recent appearance includes performing at NPR’s Tiny Desk along with Sleater-Kinney. Hesabi released her debut album entitled Nemāno Gaona featuring works for viola by composers of the Iranian Diaspora under New Focus Recordings in 2022. Her research and performances have been featured at the American Viola Society Festival, in June 2021 and her article titled “Viola Repertoire from the Iranian Diaspora” has been published by the Journal of the American Viola Society.
Kimia in collaboration with violinist/kamancheh player/composer Sarvin Hazin, are among the recipients of the Creator Development Fund from New Music USA in 2022 for a project entitled Neera. This multimedia project was among the recipients of the 2023 innova Recordings National Call and will be released internationally in 2024.
An active chamber musician, Ms. Hesabi is the founder of Yasna Ensemble. This ensemble performs contemporary compositions and arrangements that are inspired by Middle Eastern classical and folk music. Hesabi has performed with several orchestras and ensembles in the Middle East such as the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, Iranian National Orchestra, and the Tehran Philharmonic, and is an active performer in the USA as both a concert violist, and chamber musician. She regularly performs with orchestras in the greater Washington D.C area such as the Great Fall Philharmonic, Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, and the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic.
In her DMA dissertation project, “Viola from Iran: Continuing and Expanding the Trajectory of a Rich Cultural History,” Ms. Hesabi has performed, researched, and recorded an album of several commissioned and premiered works for viola by composers from the Iranian diaspora. In addition to performing, Hesabi is an active teacher and clinician in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and is currently on the string faculty at the International School of Music in Bethesda, Maryland. Recent clinics include a workshop, masterclass and performance at the American University, Katzen Art Center as well as appearing as guest lecturer at University of Maryland, Towson University, and Lebanon Valley College.
As a strong advocate for accessible music education, Kimia co-founded LyreIran, a collaborative focusing on promoting strings performance and education by hosting and organizing workshops, master classes, and educational videos for students around the world who seek affordable and easily accessible educational content. As a leadership committee of District New Music Coalition, Ms. Hesabi worked with DNMC to promote the performance and appreciation of contemporary music by connecting performers, composers, institutions, and audiences located in the Washington, D.C. area through concerts, conferences, and active community building. Kimia is a proud member of the American Viola Society and serves as a board member for the organization. In 2024 she served as one of the pre-screening jury members of the Primrose International Viola Competition as well as the Chair for the 2024 American Viola Society Ensemble Invitational Competition. She is the recipient of the prestigious Thomas Fellowship from the University of Tennessee, the Dean’s Fellowship for Academic Excellence, and the M-Cubator grant from the University of Maryland. For more information please visit