Iranian Soprano Haleh Abghari Victim to Stabbing in Colorado

The 54-year-old soprano and pedagogue was Head of the Voice Program at the University of Colorado

The Iranian soprano and pedagogue Haleh Abghari was found dead in her home in Colorado Springs on Wednesday, August 7. The 54-year-old was the victim of a stabbing, and the Colorado Springs Police Department is investigating the matter as a homicide.

Since 2015, Abghari had been Head of the Voice Program at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS). She was renowned for her interpretations of contemporary music, and in 2007 she became the only woman ever to sing the role of King George III in Eight Songs for a Mad King by Peter Maxwell Davies.

The recipient of a Fulbright grant, Abghari carried work on the vocal music of György Kurtág in Budapest. She won numerous awards, including the David S. Saxon Award for Excellence in the Performance of Early Music, the Zaidee T. Thomas Award in Vocal Performance, the Presidential Undergraduate Fellowship at UC Davis; a Peabody Conservatory Career Development Grant; and a grant from the Puffin Foundation for the development of a new music-theatre piece based on Persian poetry with Companion Star Productions.

Abghari's family and friends have set up a GoFundMe page to provide much-needed financial support towards the costs of a memorial service and its associated expenses.

You can donate to the appeal here.

"This senseless act leaves a gaping hole in our hearts," wrote Abghari's family and friends. "Haleh was very close with her family (parents and sister); she spoke with them every night on the phone for years and had just visited them at their home in Los Angeles two weeks prior. Haleh remained in close contact with a cohort of friends from when she lived in Iran, Davis (CA), Baltimore, New York, and elsewhere. Haleh was a dedicated daughter, sister, friend, performer, teacher, advocate, and so much more."

"Haleh’s life was a testament to her passion for the arts, human rights, and her commitment to her family and friends. She leaves behind a legacy of courage, creativity, and deep connections with those who knew her. As her family and community mourn this profound loss, they hold onto the memories of the incredible person Haleh was."

Our condolences to Ms. Abghari's family, friends, students, and colleagues.