Lily Afshar, renowned Iranian guitar virtuoso dies, aged 63

The world of music is mourning the loss of a true luminary as Professor Lily Afshar, a trailblazing Iranian guitarist and the first woman in the world to earn a doctorate in guitar, has passed away at the age of 63 after a long battle with illness. Her death comes as a poignant moment, just as one of her recent works was published in Iran.

Lily Afshar’s remarkable journey in music began when she was chosen as one of 12 international guitarists to study under the legendary Andres Segovia at the University of Southern California.

Maestro Segovia once predicted on NBC evening news that Afshar would become a famous musician, a prophecy that she fulfilled with grace.

She graced audiences with her guitar in performances across the globe, from the “London Wigmore Hall” to the “Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts”, leaving a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of witnessing her artistry.

Hailed as “remarkable, impeccable” by The Washington Post, Afshar’s contributions to classical guitar earned her the prestigious Orville H. Gibson Award.

The world will bid farewell to this musical genius at her funeral ceremony in the city of Tonekabon, in the northern Iranian province of Mazandaran, on 25 October.

Seyedeh Maryam Hosseini Lahijani

Hedieh Lahiji is an Iranian journalist who mainly reports the latest developments in science and technology. Her work in the IFP is mainly focused on the coverage of Iranian knowledge-based companies and their scientific achievements.