An Iranian's fight to become French and to study at Harvard
Arash Ahmadzadeh, a 28-year-old Iranian, is pursuing his dream of studying musicology in France. He arrived in Paris in 2017 and has developed a passion for baroque music, which he finds similar to traditional Persian music. His journey reflects the challenges and aspirations of many immigrants seeking to establish themselves in a new country.
- ▪Arash Ahmadzadeh is originally from Tehran and moved to France in 2017.
- ▪He is studying musicology at the Université de Reims.
- ▪Ahmadzadeh has a deep appreciation for baroque music, linking it to his Persian heritage.
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Arash Ahmadzadeh at The Abbey Bookshop in Paris, November 7, 2025. BITA GARSHASBI With a dark satchel, impeccable overcoat and neatly trimmed beard, Arash Ahmadzadeh arrived a little early for the appointment set for Thursday morning at the brasserie La Grande Colette in central Paris. This elegance – or even this punctuality – belies the concerns of many immigrants trying to make a good impression. At 28, the young Iranian is a connoisseur of baroque music from the era of Louis XIV. "It has similarities with our traditional Persian music. That's why many Iranians appreciate it," he said, shedding light on what might seem like a surprising passion. Arash, the youngest son in a modest family, came from Tehran in 2017 to study musicology at the Université de Reims in northern France.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Le Monde (EN).
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