Maziar Heidari is a conductor, composer, and pianist whose artistic career spans more than twenty years across Canada, Europe, and Asia. As Principal Conductor of the Toronto Chinese Orchestra (TCO), he brings musical precision, cultural openness, and a collaborative spirit to one of Canada’s leading Chinese orchestral ensembles.

Maziar holds dual Master’s degrees in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Toronto and in Composition from the Art University of Tehran. He has led a wide range of ensembles—from youth orchestras to professional symphonic groups—and serves as Conductor Emeritus and former Lead Conductor of the Kawartha Youth Orchestra. He is also the Co-Founder and Music Director of ICOT, where he has created and conducted more than fifty contemporary and cross-cultural productions. He also served as Assistant Conductor and pianist with the Hart House Orchestra at the University of Toronto, collaborating with soloists and leading performances featuring classical and romantic repertoire.

Internationally, Maziar worked as Assistant Conductor and Composer-in-Residence with the Iran National Music Orchestra, performing in Iran, China, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. In Canada, he has appeared as guest conductor with the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Toronto, EUPHONIA Chamber Ensemble, and the Toronto Multicultural Orchestra.

A respected contributor to Canada’s musical community, Maziar is a long-standing Juno Awards jury member, an examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music, and an Associate Composer with the Canadian Music Centre. Through his leadership at TCO, Maziar is committed to advancing Chinese orchestral music in Canada, championing new works, and fostering meaningful artistic connections between musicians and audiences.