Payam Yousefi

Payam Yousefi is an Assistant Professor at the School of Music (University of Florida), specializing in ethnomusicology and classical Persian music performance. His research focuses on Iranian cultural and political histories, particularly female vocalists’ careers post-1979 and the role of music in socio-political movements. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and has been awarded the James T. Koetting Prize (2018) and Charles Seeger Prize (2019). His work explores subversive musical practices, Sufi music’s health applications, and the 'power of presence' in Iranian women’s performances.

Education: Ph.D., Harvard University.

Research interests include ethnomusicology, socio-musical analysis, sacred musics, and critical creative practice. His interdisciplinary projects bridge music, psychology, and medicine, particularly investigating Sufi traditions’ impact on health outcomes. He collaborates globally on albums blending Persian, South African, and jazz idioms.

Recent conference presentations (2022–2023) highlight themes like mourning rituals in protest, meditative listening in public health, and Iranian musical pedagogy. His creative practice includes a forthcoming kamancheh album and transnational collaborations.

Awards:

• James T. Koetting Prize (2018)
• Charles Seeger Prize (2019)

Advising and grants: While no specific grants are mentioned, his interdisciplinary health studies and creative projects suggest ongoing collaborative efforts. He advises on topics intersecting music, gender, and public health.

Labs/teams: Collaborates with the MTO Zendeh Delan Ensemble on Sufi music health studies and transnational music projects.