“Listening to this musician ensures a journey far and wide, evoking many images through her deep emotional range. / She is undoubtedly one of the European voices that already matter and will continue to do so in the years to come.” – Citizen Jazz-MONA MATBOU RIAHI, LET FREEDOM COME/ Edition du 14 mai 2024
“Mona’s clarinet is a tether to the mortal realm. ” – The free jazz collective / 05 September 2024
Mona Matbou Riahi, born in Tehran in 1990, is a captivating musician whose her passion for music led her to the Tehran Conservatory of Music during her formative years. At the age of 17, she embarked on a transformative journey, venturing to Vienna to further her studies at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts (MDW). Since then, Vienna has become her playground, where she thrives as a performer, composer, and improviser.
Mona’s approach to music is truly unique, captivating audiences with her mesmerizing performances. Her music seamlessly blends contemporary and classical elements, combining improvisation, electronic experimentation, and innovative techniques to explore new and unheard sounds. She has graced stages in various artistic formations and projects, collaborating with dancers, actors, and multimedia artists, and has earned recognition at world-renowned festivals and prestigious concert venues.
Since 2016, with her album ‘Narrante,’ Mona has been a part of the esteemed German music label ECM Records.
With her boundless technical abilities, passion for artistic exploration, and commitment to pushing boundaries, Mona Matbou Riahi continues to redefine possibilities.
Anthony Braxton, Dorian Concept, Manu Mayr, François Couturier, Anja Lechner, Nick Dunston, Lukas Koenig, Marc Ribot, Cansu Tanrikulu, Camila Nebbia, Ben LaMar Gay, Joachim Badenhorst, Sun-Mi Hong, Elias Stemeseder , Lukas Kranzelbinder, Maja Osojnik, Mario Rom, Golfam Khayam, Golnar Shahyar, Björn Meyer, Mahan Mirarab, Taiko Saito, Beate Wiesinger, Evi Filippou, Alexander Krannabetter, Elisabeth Coudoux, Anil Eraslan, Korhan Erel, Marco Kleebauer, Simon Stockhausen, Matija Schellander, Louis Laurain, Pascal Niggenkemper, Klaus Gesing, David Six, Philipp Kienberger, Alexander Yannilos, Johannes Schleiermacher, Miriam Adefris , Mira lu Kovacs, Jakob Gnigler, Anna Clare Hauf, Jelena Popržan, Cymin Samawatie, Ketan Bhatti, Tizia Zimmermann, Martin Stegner, Dave Smith, , Bukhard Stangl , Wu Wei and many more.
Curatorial Projects:
2023: Artistic Director and Curator of DE/semble, a Festival for Jazz and Adventurous Music : https://www.de-semble.at/
2023: Curator for the free music forum concert series : https://freemusicforum.org/
Jazzfest Berlin, Festival Internacional de jazz de la Cuidad de Mexico (Mexico City), Jazztopad, Jazz Cerkno, Kick jazz Festival, Wiener Konzerthaus, Konzerthaus Berlin, Jazz and the City, Rudolstadt-Festival, International Jazz Festival Saalfelden (Internationales Jazzfestival Saalfelden)Südtirol Jazzfestival Alto Adige, Porgy&Bess (Vienna), Popfest 2023 (Vienna), SWR NEW JAZZ Meeting, Wien Modern, Women in Jazz, Elbphilarmonie Hamburg, Odeon Theater, Sunset Sunside Jazz Club (Paris),Festival Les Nuits du Monde, Festival Ellas Crean (Madrid), Kings Place (London), Rich Mix {vaakeast Festival}(London), Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Blues House (Mailand), Meridian Arts Centre (Toronto), Glatt und Verkehrt, Spielboden Dornbirn, Multiphonics/Cologne Jazz and World Music Festival, Beeflat Bern, Music Unlimited Wels, Kaleidphone Ulrichsberg, Jazzwerkstatt Wien, Rhiz, etc.
Trickster Orchestra, ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra(2017), Morgenland Chamber Orchetsra (2011-2014), Max Steiner Orchestra (2013-2014), Tehran Symphony Orchestra (Solo, Mozart Clarinet Concerto (2008))