Sima Bina Receives the 16th Bita Prize from Stanford University

Sima Bina Started Singing on Iranian Radio as a Child

One of the most remarkable aspects of Sima Bina’s biography is how early her professional musical life began.

She began singing on Iranian radio while still a child.

Her early radio appearances introduced her voice to a broad audience and provided an extraordinary education in performance.

Radio was one of the most influential cultural institutions in Iran during the mid-20th century.

For a young singer, appearing on radio meant exposure to musicians, composers, conductors, poets, and established artistic traditions.

Bina’s early experience therefore gave her access to a musical environment that would later shape her professional career.

She was exposed not only to folk songs but also to classical Persian musical traditions.

Sima Bina and the Golha Radio Programs

Sima Bina became associated with the celebrated Golha radio tradition.

The Golha programs occupy an important place in the history of modern Iranian music.

These broadcasts brought poetry and music into the homes of millions of Iranian listeners and featured some of the country’s most important singers, musicians, composers, and poets.

Bina’s involvement with this musical environment helped establish her reputation while also exposing her to sophisticated forms of Persian classical music.

Her career consequently developed at the intersection of two worlds:

traditional Persian art music and regional folk music.

This combination became one of the defining features of her artistic identity.

November 9, 2026 | 6:01 pm