Arian Khaefi

Arian Khaefi is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at San Diego State University where he conducts the SDSU Chamber Choir, Treble Choir, U-Chorus, teaches choral literature, and directs the graduate choral conducting program. 

In 2017, Khaefi was appointed as the Director of the Cornish American Song Institute (now Music Across the Pond) Choral Scholars Program, a month-long intensive summer conducting program held in the United Kingdom in conjunction with Oxford University. In 2022 he was appointed Chorus Director of the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, and now helms the symphonic chorus through performances of canonic masterworks as well as commissions and new music. 

Khaefi maintains an active schedule leading ensembles and conducting workshops for high-schools, colleges, and universities across the country, and is particularly passionate about collaborating with leaders in education to promote the advancement of choral arts within secondary schools. 

Khaefi is nationally and internationally recognized for his accomplishments as a conducting pedagogue and guest conductor. In addition to leading regional and all-state honor choirs, he has guest-conducted throughout Asia, Europe, and South America. Choruses under his direction have toured nationally and have performed in concert halls across the United States. Khaefi has prepared choruses for leading conductors including Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonard Slatkin, Christopher Warren-Green, and James Conlon.