Maryam Yusefzadeh

Yusefzadeh received her early training in Iran, at the Tehran School of Music, from artist and educator Esmail Tehrani. Upon immigrating to the United States as a student, she received a BFA from the University of Minnesota in Art, Music and Dance Performance. She furthered her musical studies at MacPhail Center for the Arts in Minneapolis, where she studied jazz with renowned Jazz vocalist Roberta Davis. She has also continued her vocal technique training with Nancy Grauff since 1979.

Yusefzadeh is actively involved with Persian music as a vocalist, percussionist, educator and guest lecturer at several area institutions including the Minnesota Historical Society, Walker Art Center, Minnesota Orchestra, Weisman Museum, Minneapolis/St. Paul Public Library system, Universalist and Unitarian Churches, Macalester College, Winona State university, Minneapolis/St. Paul School Districts, and the University of Minnesota. Co-founded the group "Robayat" in 1988 Winner of 1992 Minnesota Music Award. Winners of several musical grants such as Jerome Foundation Grant in 2001 to write the music for a Persian play, "Sohrab and Rustam", with playwright Zarawar Mistry and percussionist Tim O'Keefe. In 2002 performed in the Walker Art Center World Premier performance of "LOGIC OF THE BIRDS" by Shirin Neshat. Co-founder of the "Minnesota Global Arts" and "Global Knowledge Through Cultural Awareness" two organizations focused on advancing public's world cultural knowledge through music.

She also has several jazz performances to her credit including stints as soloist with Cedar Walton Trio, founder of the vocal jazz quintet Solfege, a soloist with the MacPhail Center Jazz Ensemble, the Love Ensemble under the direction of Roberta Davis, the vocal jazz group Essentially Jazz, and Dr. Reginald Buckner's Jazz Quartet.