Darius Paymai

Image by Sam White


Darius Paymai is an Iranian-American composer and performer based in London. His work is characterised by a clarity of approach and economy of material: often fragile, static, cyclical, found and reused in new contexts.

He is undertaking an Artist Master’s at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, learning with Laurence Crane, where he also studied at an undergraduate level with Paul Newland and Paul Whitmarsh. 

As a composer he has worked with ensembles such as the London Chamber Orchestra, Plus-Minus Ensemble, Britten Sinfonia, EXAUDI, Quatuor Bozzini, and cellist Francesco Dillon, and his music performed at St. John’s Smith Square, The Place, Milton Court Concert Hall, and Hundred Years Gallery.

As a performer he is interested in approaching experimental repertoire, drone, and free improvisation, often with harmonium, percussion, or live electronics, as well as making and presenting independent radio shows.

His studies have been supported by the Guildhall School Trust.

He enjoys two-word piece titles and crossword puzzles.


link to recent interviewPRXLUDES




date
    work
    ?
    2025
    21st February

    7pm
      new work
      Silk Street Music Hall (UK)

      UBU Ensemble

      w/works by Harrison Birtwistle and Zhuoer Zhou

      18th April

      12pm
        trio
        Orford Church, Suffolk (UK)

        Trio Farben

        w/works by Dubois, Mathias, and Takemitsu

        info and tickets here

        events archive
        2024
        21st June
          quintet
          Milton Court Concert Hall (UK)

          Plus-Minus Ensemble

          w/new works by Guildhall MMus composers

          13th May
            love song
            Milton Court Concert Hall (UK)

            EXAUDI Vocal Ensemble

            w/works by James Weeks, Zesses Seglias, and new works by Guildhall MMus composers

            • 9th May
              Milton Court Concert Hall (UK)

              soprano — Harriet Cameron
              piano — Jingyi Cao

              w/new works by Guildhall MMus composers

              19th March
              for two  (spring)
              Milton Court Concert Hall (UK)

              violin — Victoria Willumsen Lewis
              piano — Yihan Chen

              w/new works by Guildhall MMus composers



              contact for scores, CV, further info, recordings, or just to say hello


              ©Darius Paymai 2024