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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 musicians like Michael Raznick, Sundance composing fellow known for his award-winning compositions 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 movie Avatar and the live production of Moulin Rouge. She also has performed with, and under the direction of, Salim-Sulaiman, the Bollywood Duo, as well as Hussein Janmohamed, world-renowned choral conductor.

In 2017 and 2018, Noorali created a 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. Before taking on the role of Co-Director alongside Farah Alwani in "Stories," her primary role in the show was as its Playwright and Composer. Noorali’s first stage shows, like La Page Blanche and Teesri Pehchaan, featured at Cullen Performance Hall. Later, she co-directed 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. 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 Samira Noorali at Margo Jones Theater. Dallas, TX. 2015

  • Screenwriter. Winner of TV screenwriting contest by ABC/Disney Network. HBO “Girls" spec script. 2014.

  • Director. Island of the Animals, Wortham Center. Stage play, Samira Noorali. Houston, TX. May 2005.

  • Writer, Director, Performer. 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 for Prince Hussein Aga Khan and Princess Khaliya’s visit to the United States (accompanied by political leaders).

  • 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

  • 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, a Pakistani fusion band, 2011 (toured Washington, D.C. and Vienna, VA).

Performances

  • Alto. Assisi Singers of St. Francis Episcopal. Houston, TX. 2023.

  • Soprano, stand-in Conductor. Pride Chorus Houston under Direction of David York. Full-length Concerts: “Kings, Queens and a Pair of Aces” and “Don We Now”. Houston, Tx. 2022.

  • 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 for the Homage Ceremony of Prince Aga Khan IV. Aiglemont, France, 2017

    • Salim Merchant for the Jubilee Games attended by Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Royal Family as well as Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. Dubai, UAE, 2017.

    • Hussein Janmohamed for choral concert at Salim-Sulaiman at Roy Thompson Hall. Toronto, CA. 2014.

    • Collin Farrell for ensemble performance Prince Aga Khan IV Golden Jubilee Chamber Ensemble. San Francisco, CA and Atlanta, GA. 2008.

  • Vocal performances:

    • David Gonzalez Live @ Furst World. Joshua Tree, CA. 2018. Las Volcanistas Concert. Tepoztlan, Mexico. 2016. 111 Music Festival. Palm Springs, CA. 2015.

    • National Anthem @ opening of Houston Permanent Center attended by Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, Texas Governor Rick Perry, and telecast to 200K including the White House; International Cricket Championships (televised internationally) and other sports events at Reliant Stadium and Astro Arena, political events in support of Texas Governor Rick Perry, inaugural events for California and Texas Senators.

Music Direction & Teaching

  • Music Director, Arranger. Ismaili Muslim Choir. Short season, 2022.

  • Music Director. Impressions of Devotion album, 2018-2020.

  • Music Director, Stories: Our American Journey. 2017-2018.

  • 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 System, 2007-2010.

  • Classical piano training, 1991-2002. Jazz and Composition, 2003-2005.

  • Ballet, Tap, Jazz. 1990-2001.

  • Bharatnatyam: 2000-2002

WRITING

Published Work

Poetry Performances

  • Noorali’s featured readings for her book, 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