Meet Kimia Rafieian

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kimia Rafieian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kimia, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

For a musician, resilience is one of the first things you develop as you step into the professional world. Constant feedback—both positive and negative—comes from peers, mentors, audiences, and institutions such as competitions and schools. Although praise is encouraging, it’s often the criticism and rejection that leave a stronger impression, so learning to cope with them is essential.

I’ve built my resilience by holding on to a deep belief in my chosen path and artistic vision. My musical choices stem from both my formal education and my personal sense of beauty and expression. Because music is ultimately subjective, no one can say with certainty that a particular creative decision is “wrong.” What truly matters is having a solid belief in yourself and being satisfied with the art you create. When you stay true to your musical voice, neither criticism nor rejection can shake your confidence.

Over time, I’ve also come to realize that even those we see as flawless have their own struggles. Recognizing this keeps me grounded and adds perspective to my own creative journey. No matter what approach you take, you’ll inevitably attract an audience and a community that appreciates your unique style. I always trust my individuality and artistic choices, this has helped me build the resilience that sustains me in my musical career.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I like to do all things piano. My love for music began when I was very young, listening to Chopin waltzes in the car and doing homework with Mozart symphonies playing in the background. Although it wasn’t always an easy decision to pursue music as a career, I found that I naturally gravitated toward it.

I was born in Iran and have lived in several countries, but I noticed early on that my artistic potential and opportunities back home were limited. I moved abroad to study but at the same time, I wanted to bring back my newfound knowledge to those in Iran who have limited resources and exposure to the music world—especially students at the music conservatory in Tehran. Sharing education and access to music is a key mission of mine, and I’m actively working on it.

Eventually, I chose to come to the United States to study piano performance. It was during this time that I realized how much I love making music with others—performing collaboratively or in chamber music settings feeds my passion for social connection and creative synergy. If I could choose, I’d never go on stage alone!

After my formal studies, I began thinking about my musical purpose more deeply. A conversation with a friend and colleague led us to reconnect with our Iranian roots and explore the lack of available resources on Iranian classical composers. That’s when we decided to co-found a nonprofit organization, Music of the Iranian Diaspora (MOFID). We had our debut performance in December 2024 in Boston and launched a mini website: https://mofid.carrd.co. Our goal is to amplify the voices of Iranian composers, whose works are often missing from concert halls, and to ensure their music reaches broader, more diverse audiences. We’re partnering with arts organizations and venues to provide composers with resources, musicians, and funding to bring their compositions to the stage.

Right now, I’m also devoting much of my time to music education. I teach a full studio of piano students of all ages and interests, and my goal is to make music learning fun, holistic, and impactful. I believe in unlocking each student’s creative potential, rather than just having them memorize pieces. I aspire to bring classical music to new generations who may be missing out on its beauty due to a lack of exposure or educational opportunities. It’s all a work in progress, but I’m excited about how these projects continue to grow and evolve.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

When I look back, I believe the most important set of skills is having a broad skill set, strong people skills and language proficiency, and willingness to embrace new opportunities that pushes you out of your comfort zone. While it’s essential to have a primary focus—something you know intimately—having complementary skills can be a huge asset. It helps you adapt to new contexts, collaborate more effectively, and discover unique prospects in your field. Equally important, communication skills—particularly language proficiency—can open doors and help you form meaningful connections across cultures. By continuously refining your ability to listen, empathize, and convey ideas clearly, you not only increase your professional marketability, but you also gain a broader outlook on the world. Finally, saying “yes” to projects and experiences that initially seem daunting often leads to the most significant breakthroughs. While it can be nerve-wracking to step outside of what feels comfortable, confronting those fears often leads to valuable lessons, new relationships, and unexpected growth. For anyone just starting out, I recommend focusing deeply on one area you’re passionate about while seeking out related skills, refining your communication abilities, and never shying away from an opportunity that holds real potential for development.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m always excited to share music with others and learn from them, and I love exploring a wide variety of genres to discover new ways of interpreting and performing music. The creative process is incredibly rewarding, and it’s a major part of why I play. If you’re ever in the New York City area, feel free to reach out to me through my website, www.kimiarafieian.com, so we can chat and see if we’d make good collaborators.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

img_1580, 1581, 3523, 3524 credit to: Tzu-Chin Hsu

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