Faraj Karayev Faraj Karayev

Faraj Gara oglu Garayev (Azerbaijani: Fərəc Qara oğlu Qarayev; December 19, 1943 in Baku) is an Azerbaijani composer, music instructor, professor, son of the prominent Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev (Kara Karayev) and one of the leading composers of post-Soviet period.

Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, 19.12.1943.

In 1966 graduated cum lauda from the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, composition class by prof. Kara Karayev, his father. 1970-1971 – post-graduate course at the same class.

In 1966-2003 teached composition, orchestration, and polyphony at The Azerbaijan State Conservatory (since 1991 – Baku Musical Academy), since 1994 – professor.

Since 1991 lives in Baku and Moscow. Since 1999, professor at The Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Music Theory department. In 2003-2005 professor at The Kazan State Conservatory, Composition department.

In 1994-1996, Vice-Chairman of the Association of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Moscow.

Since 1995, co-founder and president of Yeni Musiqi Society for contemporary music in Baku.

In 1980-1994 worked as an Artistic director of the BaKaRA Ensemble (Baku).

In 1991 composer-in-residence in Folkwang-Hochschule Essen, Germany.

In 2007-2008, 2010-2011, 2013-2014, 2015-2016 — Art Director of the project "Face To Face With Time" ("Zamanla üz-üzə"), by Ministry of Culture of Azerbaidzhan.