Sofia Azadeh Ardalan

SOFIA AZADEH ARDALAN  4 November 1979 - 23 November 2025   Sofia was an extraordinary performer and teacher. After receiving her vocal performance degree, she obtained advanced training in New York, Italy, and Germany. Besides performing locally, Sofia performed in Germany, Sweden, and Finland.   For many years Sofia was the director of the House of Hope Presbyterian Church Choir School. With deep knowledge and a great sense of humor she instilled children with a love of music which they carried into adulthood.    Sofia also taught voice at The MacPhail School of Music, and offered lessons in voice, violin, and piano in her private studio. Until several weeks before her death she was still preparing students for their college voice and instrumental auditions.   Sofia valued all the arts. When she had time, she visited the great museums of the world and particularly knew the fine collections in Berlin. She was equally fond of ballroom dancing and perfected her steps as she did her music.   Sofia was born in Minneapolis of foreign-born parents. Her mother is German, while her late father was Persian. Her mother's family imparted to her a great love of music. Her father's family, the Ardalan family, which dates its origin to Saladin in the 13th Century, were for many centuries the ruling noble family of Kurdistan. She was proud of her heritage and possessed the civility and friendliness of that ancient culture.   Just before she received her diagnosis Sofia was about to prepare as soprano soloist for the Bloomington Symphony's presentation of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony. It is a great pity that we shall never hear her sing that towering work.   Those who knew Sofia remember her humility, her infinite kindness, her loyalty, her great sense of humor, and her ability to welcome and appreciate everyone she met. She lived the message of Phillipians 4:8. "whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, think about these things."