Ali(Reza) Ostovar is an interdisciplinary artist known for his electroacoustic music, sound colors, performance, and audio-visual art. Born in Tehran in 1987, he cultivated his musical talents by studying piano at the Tehran Conservatory. Fascinated by electronic music and composition, he immersed himself in self-exploration and experimentation with electronic sound. From 2010 to 2013, he honed his skills in electronic music composition and music informatics under the guidance of distinguished mentors at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome. Aiming to expand his expertise in real-time sound processing and live electronic performance, Ali pursued a degree in electroacoustic music interpretation at IRCAM during the Manifest Academy in 2017. Adding to his portfolio, he completed his master’s degree in “Integrative Composition” at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen in 2018. He has collaborated with many renowned artists, including Marina Abramović, with whom he has performed in more than 150-200 performances.
As co-founder and artistic director of the TEMBER Ensemble, he is also active as a producer, composer, and live electronic performer. His compositions often focus on transcultural themes and social issues, weaving spiritual insights, the meaning of life (and death), and Iranian tradition with electronic elements to create compelling narratives, the relationship between art and technology, and the interaction between man and machine. His work is a testament to the power of art as a bridge between cultures and a medium for introspection and transformation.
Extended Biography
Alireza Ostovar is an interdisciplinary artist, composer, live-electronics performer, improvisor, sound designer, performance artist, researcher, and educator based in Berlin. Born in Tehran in 1987, his artistic path began with a deep curiosity for sound. Before formal training, he immersed himself in self-directed experimentation and experimental composition, working as a sound engineer from the start of his career. This early technical immersion gave him a unique perspective on audio, which he later structured through studies in piano and composition at the Tehran Conservatory.
From 2010 to 2013, Alireza specialized in electronic and contemporary music composition and music informatics under Giorgio Nottoli, Santobouni, and Carmine Cella at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome. His bachelor’s thesis (2014) explored “Multicultural Music,” resulting in Le Corde Sul Corpo, a piece for prepared Santur and live electronics that pushes beyond the limits of traditional instruments. He further expanded his expertise in real-time processing at IRCAM (Paris) in 2017 and completed his Master’s in Integrative Composition under Thomas Neuhaus at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen in 2018.
His academic research, particularly his master’s thesis Transcultural Music: Research on Intercultural and Transcultural Processes in Electroacoustic Music, established a framework for cultural fusion in digital media—an approach that has inspired fellow artists since 2010. This work coincided with the release of his debut album, Reflections (2017). Notably, his last four album productions have been nominated for the prestigious Der Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (The Prize of the German Record Critics). Alireza’s academic contributions include presenting at the Korean Electro-Acoustic Music Society’s Annual Conference (KEAMSAC) in 2015, lecturing at the Hochschule für Musik Münster in 2017, and leading the workshop “Transcultural Music and Interdisciplinary Art” at the Conservatorio Pietro Mascagni in Livorno, Italy, in 2023.
As co-founder and artistic director of the TEMBER Ensemble (est. 2021), Alireza is active as a producer, composer, and improviser. He is widely recognized for his collaboration with Marina Abramović, performing in over 150 shows for her exhibition The Cleaner. His compositions often introduce new sonic possibilities by integrating traditional instruments—such as the prepared Santur, Nay, Djoze, Indian Bansuri flute, Tombak, Setar, and Guzheng—with electronic elements.
His work explores the meaning of life and consciousness, examining the relationship between art, nature, and technology, as well as the interaction between human and machine. For Ali, art is a bridge between cultures and a powerful medium for expression, awareness, introspection, and transformation. Beyond the stage, Alireza is a dedicated yoga practitioner and teacher, integrating principles of sound healing into his artistic and therapeutic practices.
Alireza has performed and presented his work at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide, including: Ars Electronica (Linz), Centre Pompidou (Paris), International Electroacoustic Festival of Monaco, Komische Oper Berlin & Philharmonie Essen, MAXXI Museum of Contemporary Art (Rome) & Emufest (Rome), Linux Audio Conference (ZKM, Karlsruhe), Tanzhaus NRW (Düsseldorf) & Lichtmuseum (Unna), Klang Festival (Copenhagen), Urban Solar Audio Plant (USAP, Berlin), Ernst Busch Hochschule (Berlin), Irish Sound, Science, and Technology Convocation (ISSTC), Korean Electro-Acoustic Music Society Annual Conference (KEAMSAC), and various projects across Asia, including India and Nepal.
Short biography
Alireza Ostovar is an interdisciplinary artist, composer, sound engineer/designer, live-electronics performer, researcher, music lecturer, and performance artist based in Berlin.
He was born in Tehran. He completed his bachelor’s degree in electronic music at S. Cecilia Conservatory in Rome and his Master’s degree in integrative composition at Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany.
He wrote his Master’s thesis on “TRANSCULTURAL MUSIC: A RESEARCH ABOUT INTERCULTURAL AND TRANSCULTURAL PROCESSES IN ELECTROACOUSTIC MUSIC” shortly after officially releasing his first album “REFLECTIONS” for quartet and live electronics.
Alireza has worked on many projects as a freelance composer, sound designer, and performance artist. for example, Marina Abramovic’s “The Cleaner,” International Electroacoustic Festival of Monaco, Emufest (Rome), Ars Electronica, Maxxi Museum of Contemporary Art, Linux Audio Conference (ZKM), Urban Solar Audio Plant (USAP Berlin), the Annual Conference of the Korean Electroacoustic Music Society (KEAMSAC), the Irish Sound, Science, and Technology Convocation (ISSTC2015), the Tanzhaus NRW Düsseldorf, the Lichtmuseum (Unna), the Ernest Busch Hochschule Berlin, the Philharmonie Essen, the Centre Pompidou (Paris), Klang Festival (Copenhagen), the Komische Oper Berlin and many more.