Biography :

Sirus Malakooty was born in Iran in 1956. He learnt to play the guitar auto didactically from the age of 10. In later years, to develop his skill professionally, he studied under guitarists such as Saeed Rasa and Dariyush Afrasiabi.

Whilst in Iran he gave concerts and worked as a teacher in different music schools:

College of Building and Architecture – in the Advance Project programs, 1977 –78;
Ministry of Culture and Art, 1976 –78; Kakhe Markazi Javanan (Youth Centre Educational Centre) – where he was a music consultant and a teacher of the guitar, 1975 –78; The Youth Centre of Red Cross Organisation (Tehran & Sari).

In 1979 Sirus immigrated to Germany because of political circumstances in Iran.

During 1979 – 1984 period, he also taught music in different music schools in Berlin: Musikschule Steglitz, 1981–83; Musikschule Zehlendorf, 1983–92; Musikschule Wedding, 1988–92; Sophischol Oberschule, 1986–87

In 1986 he was one of the three judges in the International Guitar Competition (Toyoko Yamashita).

Sirus has given numerous performances and interviews on Radio and Television such as SFB and ZDF.

In 1987 a collection of Sirus’s compositions was produced on LP by Stasch Company.

In its Content page, prominent composer and Lecturer from Berlin and Viena Universities, Prof, Dr. Hartmut Fladt, has commented that:

“Sirus’s compositions are a precise reflection of his personal situation. On the one hand they are situated in the area between the musical language of his native country and middle European serious music. The resulting synthesis, which Sirus aims at the European element, predominates for the time being in his opinion. On the other hand, one can always sense in the content of his music, in the images, scenes and emotions how much the artist is affected by the suffering of the people in his native country. At the same time, their human commitment embraces the joy both in the sensuality of the music and in virtuosity.

A great newly developed guitar technique (especially with regard to tremolo) is opening up new domains of expression, for all the artistry concerned. Although Sirus Malakooty never quotes classical Persian music literally, he employs a number of its elements: Rythmic models (for instance those of Dervish Dances and Folk music) or modes (the stock of tones, scale).”

Sirus’s collection of compositions on LP was produced on CD by Pimarus Film and Music Production Company in 2002. The income from the production was used for humanitarian purposes to help artists.

Sirus has written many compositions for Solo Guitar, 10–String Guitar, Guitar and Vocals, Guitar and Orchestra.

Activity:

Throughout the years, Sirus has been known as a founder/Active Member of many Artistic and Humanitarian charities as well as an avid Human Rights activist. Here is a list of some of the organizations which Sirus belongs to:

Founding Member, AG for a new music (Berlin 1983 )

Founding Member, Iranian Artists & Writers Society in Exile.

Founder and President of Art & Communication Centre (ACC) and Editor-in-Chief for "Video Negah" Video Magazine promoting the Iranian Artists and Culture, abroad.

Founder, Artists Without Frontiers Foundation.