The Victoria Iranian Persian Cultural Society is hosting a virtual memorial gathering to commemorate the life of Master Mohammed Reza Shajarian on the evening of Nov 5.

Shajarian, a prominent Iranian vocalist and composer, passed away on Oct. 8 at the age of 80 from complications related to kidney cancer.

Born in 1940, in Mashhad, Iran, Shajarian began singing at the age of five. Having rose to prominence in 1959, Shajarian is widely hailed as the master of classical Persian singing.

Along with being celebrated for his artistic achievements, Shajarian was also widely known for his humanitarian pursuits, including his vocal criticisms of the Iranian government during the 2009 presidential elections in Iran.