Samira R. Noorali is a Houston-based composer &
stage-show creator.
Through multi-disciplinary work, she brings cultural and spiritual narratives to life. Her work has toured on stages all over the United States, Dubai, Portugal, Mexico, Canada, and France.
Over the few couple of years, she has been working on composing, performing for and directing ensembles, both live and in the recording studio. Her most recent project entitled Impressions of Devotion, a world-fusion choral album, features collaborations with Michael Raznick, whose award-winning compositions have been featured on Disney and HBO, as well as Andrew Synowiec, grammy-winning guitarist. Also featured in this work is violinist Shalini Vijayan of the famed Lyris Quartet and Jenn Stafford best known for her work in the Avatar II and the live production of Moulin Rouge. Noorali also has performed with, and under the direction of, Salim-Sulaiman, Bollywood Composing Duo, as well as Hussein Janmohamed, world-renowned conductor of several royal chorales.
In 2017 and 2018, Noorali created and directed documentary-based theatrical production entitled Stories: Our American Journey which featured in prestigious venues like Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Manhattan Centre in New York City, Fox Theater in Atlanta, Hobby Center in Houston, and more. Noorali’s first stage shows, like La Page Blanche and Teesri Pehchaan, featured at Cullen Performance Hall. Later, she co-directed cultural work that appeared at Houston’s Wortham Center and Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Noorali's most recent creations include plays written under the direction of Bollywood's Zeenat Lakhani and Hollywood's Ahmed Lucan. She has taken plays from the creation phase to production with the creative partnership of Rizwan Manji (best known for his acting role in the Emmy Award Winning TV show Schitt’s Creek).
In 2014, Noorali published a collection of poetry called A Simple Rebirth,which took new form as a theatrical production with a cast of nine, featuring an original musical score. It has played at Margo Jones Theater in Dallas and Notsuoh Theater in Houston among many other Texas venues. Noorali’s lecture series based on A Simple Rebirth, “Poetry and the Hero’s Journey” received a warm welcome at University of Houston, University of Texas, writing conferences, bookstores, and workshops, as well as various therapy groups and behavioral health clinics.
CURRICULUM VITAE
LIVE/SCREEN
Writing, Direction, Performance
Vocalist/Actor. Each New Journey: Actual Slices of the Great Billie Duncan. Produced by Invisible Lines. The Match Theater and The Interchange. 2022.
Vocalist/Actor. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, Produced by Invisible Lines. The Match Theater, Fringe Festival Houston. 2021.
Screenwriter, Director. Pebbles to Penguins: A Story of Renewal. An original IsmailiTV feature film. 2021.
Storyteller. “CV Storytellers.” Produced by Desert Sun - USA TODAY Network. Palm Canyon Theater. Palm Springs, CA. 2019.
Playwright, Composer, Director, Music Director. Stories: Our American Journey, documentary-based theatrical production. Walt Disney Theater, Orlando; Manhattan Centre, New York; Harris Theater for Music & Arts, Chicago; Hobby Center, Houston; Texas Hall, Dallas; Fox Theater. 2017-2018.
Writer, director, performer. Theatrical performances of A Simple Rebirth.
Produced by VoxCulture Houston. Houston, TX 2014
Produced by Invisible Lines, Notsuoh Theater. Houston, TX. 2015.
Produced by Pandora’s Box at Margo Jones Theater. Dallas, TX. 2015
Screenwriter. Winner of TV screenwriting contest by ABC/DisneyNetwork. HBO “Girls" spec script. 2014.
Director. Island of the Animals, Wortham Center. Stage play, Samira Noorali. Houston, TX. May 2005.
Writer, Director, Performer. Teesri Pechaan: The Third Identity, University of Houston, Cullen Performance Hall. 15 minute, 4-act musical. Houston, TX. 2004.
Writer, Director, Performer. La Page Blanche, University of Houston, Cullen Performance Hall. 18-minute, 4-act musical. Houston, TX. 2003.
Dance Director and Performer. Private and Public Performances of Silk Road Golden Jubilee Dance Suite in honor of Prince Hussein Aga Khan’s royal visit to the United States.
Dancer of Ballet and Bharatnatyam. Instructor, Tap Dance. Urban Indian Beat Dance Co. 2001-2002.
WORKSHOPS & LECTURES
“Musicality in The Ismaili Ginan,” Aga Khan Council, Religious Education training. Houston, TX. 2022.
“The Artist & The Hero’s Journey” Global Encounters - CONNECT, virtual 10-day workshop. 2020.
“The Hero’s Journey Through Acapella Singing,” Global Encounters Program. Lisbon, Portugal. 2018.
"Poetry writing & Hero's Journey workshops" and “Poetry and Ritual” presented at Addiction Therapeutic Services and Cielo Spiritual Retreat. High Desert, CA. 2015
"Poetry writing & Hero's Journey Psychology" 8-hour course. University of Texas, Austin, TX. 2013 and 2014
"Poetry and female sexuality.” University of Houston, Houston, TX. 2014
"A Poetic Revolution,” Palm Springs Behavioral Health Care Network, Palm Springs, CA. 2014
“Compelling story-telling and mytho-poetic devices in journalism.” Aga Khan Council, Dallas, TX. 2014
"Sufism." College Program on Islam. Hofstra University. New York City, New York. 2014
"Hero's Journey and the Role of the Artist in Healing and Empowerment." PULSE Women's Therapy Group Launch, Austin, TX. 2013
"Hero's Journey and the Identity of the Artist." Research-Spark a Change, Educational Seminar, Aga Khan Council. Sugar Land, TX 2013
MUSIC
Composed & Recorded
Music Director, Composer, Vocalist and Pianist: Impressions of Devotion, the album, 2020.
Composer, Vocalist, Pianist, Iftetah, an album by Saz, 2008. Toured Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA.
Pianist. Inyle, Pakistani fusion band, 2011 (toured Washington, D.C. and Vienna, VA).
Performances
Alto I. Voices of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX 76107. 2025-2026. International Gold Medalist, World Choir Games.
Alto. Assisi Singers of St. Francis Episcopal. Houston, TX. 2023.
Soprano, Conductor. Pride Chorus Houston.
Composer, Vocalist and Pianist: Impressions of Devotion Concert, La Quinta Museum, La Quinta, CA. 2020.
Performances and collaborative composition with international cultural music ensembles under world-renowned Directors
Hussein Janmohamed/Amin Bhatia, Homage Ceremony of Prince Aga Khan IV. Aiglemont, France, 2017.
Salim Merchant, Jubilee Gamesattended by Prince Rahim Aga Khan V and Royal Family as well as Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. Dubai, UAE, 2017.
Salim Merchant, Roy Thompson Hall. Toronto, CA. 2014.
Collin Farrell, ensemble performance Prince Aga Khan IV Golden Jubilee Chamber Ensemble. San Francisco, CA and Atlanta, GA. 2008.
Other Concerts:
David Gonzalez Live @ Furst World. Joshua Tree, CA. 2018. Las Volcanistas Concert. Tepoztlan, Mexico. 2016. 111 Music Festival. Palm Springs, CA. 2015. Performances of the National Anthem at Royal events.
Music Direction & Teaching
Music Director, Arranger. Ismaili Muslim Choir. Short season, 2022.
Arranger and Conductor. U.S. Army Brass Band performance for the royal arrival of Prince Aga Khan IV in the United States (along with the Governor of Georgia). Atlanta, Georgia. 2018.
Choral workshop co-facilitator w/ Hussein Janmohamed, Aga Khan Museum's Enlightened Encounters program. Sugar Land, TX. 2014
Director, Ismaili Music Ensemble, Houston, TX. Concert venues included Museum of Fine Arts Houston, International Festival Houston, Aga Khan Council, Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston among many others. 2010-2012.
Instructor, Piano and Voice. 2001-2020.
Music and Dance Education
Composition and production residency: Graviosity Studios. Sterling, Virginia. April 2016.
Vocal: Opera, 1997-2012. Pop and jazz, 2001-2004. Choral Ensembles, 1994-2000.
Hindustani (North Indian) Classical Music, 2007-2012.
Piano: Classical, 1991-2002. Jazz & Composition, 2003-2007.
Dance: Ballet, Tap, Jazz. 1990-2001. Bharatnatyam: 2000-2002
WRITING
Published Work
“Final Thoughts” Creative Memoir, Desert Sun Magazine, USA TODAY Network. 2019.
Poems: "Elusive and Intrusive Memories," a poem, Coachella Valley Magazine, 2015, "Desert Rain," Phantom Seed Literary Journal, 2015, “Haikus,” Poetry Nook Magazine, 2014, Poetry Set, Medusa’s Kitchen Blog, 2013
A Simple Rebirth, a book of poems, 2013.
Poetry Performances
Noorali’s featured readings for chapbook, A Simple Rebirth: Poetry in the Park,Sacramento Poetry Center, Sacramento, CA. PoetX, Wordspace Literary Organization, Dallas TX. Porterville Library, Porterville, CA, Lucky Dog Books, Dallas, TX, Malvern Books, Austin, TX. Proclaiming Humanity, Vox Culture Houston, Houston, TX. Janan I Heart Art and Music, Houston, TX. Colloquium on Gender-Based Violence, University of Houston, Houston, TX.
Other featured readings: Sensory Reading co-performed and co-curated by Noorali, Whitewater Preserve, CA. 100000 Poets for Change, UC Riverside, Riverside, CA. Connected, Coachella Valley Arts Scene, Palm Springs, CA.
Journalism
Creative Editor, Writer. RecoveryView.com, a behavioral health journal. 2015-2018.
Long Form Articles on cultural and music in IsmailiMail, 2015 and, long form articles on international politics in ITL News, 2013.
Writing Education
Under the Volcano Writing Residency, Tepoztlan, Mexico, 2016, 2017.
University of Houston (B.A.): Creative Writing & Psychology. 2006.
University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law (J.D.). 2010. Award-winning legal writer and oralist.
MEDIA
10-part radio series on “The Hero’s Journey” on Mind Over Music with RJ Shan Ali Modelina on on Radio Azad. 2020.
Interviews on Radio Azad: Chai Tunes with Nazesh Ali, Late Night Vibes with Anil Sohani on Radio Azad. 2020.
Radio Interviews (US and Canada): Chicon Street Poets, University of HoustonCoogRadio, KPFT Houston, Sangeet Radio's "Indus Dialogue," BlogTalkRadio's "The Streets Don't Love You Back,” Austin KOOP 91.7 “Writing on the Air,” Austin KOOP 91.7 "Ideas Lounge," RJ Jalal’s “Salaam Namaste”. 2010-2015.
TheIsmaili articles: With Heart With Love, Performing for Seattle Jamat, Talented Musicians Find Space to Grow in Ismaili Ensembles. 2012-2018.
Featured Artist, Young Houston Magazine Fall Issue. 2013.