Dr Amir Konjani
Dr Amir Konjani
Amir Konjani, Ph.D. is a composer, situation-maker, performance designer, and creator of handcrafted instruments for film and stage.
His work has earned several notable distinctions, including recognition by the Ivors Composer Awards and the London Symphony Orchestra, and his film music was featured in The Silent Child, the Oscar-winning film at the 90th Academy Awards (2018). He is also a member of BAFTA/ Connect.
Biography
Amir has collaborated with leading artists and institutions across the world, including David Alberman (London Symphony Orchestra), Grammy-nominated pianist Vicki Ray, Clark Rundell (Royal Liverpool Philharmonic), Peter Manning (Royal Opera House), Christopher Rountree (LA Phil), harpist Sioned Williams (BBC Symphony Orchestra), violinist Darragh Morgan, and the poet Ahmad Shamlou.
His commissions include works for the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC World Service, BBC News, the British Museum, the Royal Air Force Museum, CalArts, and the Ether Festival. His music has been performed at venues and festivals such as the Southbank Centre, Sound Unbound, the World Harp Congress, Ashleywood Festival, the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, and internationally at CalArts, as well as on television and commercial recordings.
In 2019, his instruments — the Soveida Harp, Kraken Piano, and Kraken Cello — received critical acclaim in performance with LSO musicians at LSO St Luke’s, London. Amir earned his Ph.D. at the Royal Northern College of Music with a full scholarship, specialising in performance art, theatre, and performativity. He has twice been nominated for the RNCM Gold Medal in Composition and has taught composition at CalArts (USA).
In 2022, he was named an Associate Member of the Royal Northern College of Music, an honour presented by Sir John Tomlinson. He currently teaches composition at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where he also serves as a judge for major competitions, including the Gold Medal Competition at King’s Place (2024). His mentorship has guided students to leading institutions in the UK and internationally, from undergraduate to Ph.D. level.
Recent highlights include the 2024 premiere of his Harp Concerto at Cutty Sark, commissioned by the New Lights Festival and written for long-time collaborator Gabriella Dall’Olio. Looking ahead, he has been commissioned for a major new work premiering at King’s Place in 2026, a collaboration with painter Ash Naghouni, harpist Gabriella Dall’Olio, and pianist Dr. Aleks Szram (Artistic Director, Trinity Laban), combining visual art, Kraken instruments, and innovative approaches to sonic design.