Kyia Tabassian

Kiya Tabassian is an internationally acclaimed setar virtuoso and composer, renowned for his cross-cultural musical creations. After immigrating to Quebec as a teenager, he pursued Persian classical music while studying composition at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal.

In 2001, he co-founded the ensemble Constantinople, which he continues to lead as Artistic Director, developing more than fifty programs and presenting nearly 1,000 concerts worldwide. His work bridges historical traditions and contemporary creation, leading to collaborations with major artists and institutions. A prolific composer, he has also written music for film and large-scale projects, including Mémoires d’Ahuntsic (2017) and Le temps des forêts (2020).