Dr. Mohd Fairuz Zamani, commonly known as Fairuz Zamani, is an academic, pianist, composer, and music researcher currently serving at the Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya (UM), where he holds the position of Deputy Dean (Postgraduate, Research & Innovation). His research focuses on contemporary Malaysian music composition, with particular interest in developing analytical frameworks for the works of Malaysian composers and advancing scholarship in Southeast Asian music studies.

Dr. Fairuz has published in several esteemed academic journals, including Muzikološki Zbornik, Malaysian Journal of Music, Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education, Wacana Seni, Resonancias, and 3L: Language, Linguistics, Literature. He has led research projects aimed at promoting Malaysian piano repertoire to wider audiences and currently oversees a grant focused on analytical methodologies for selected works by Malaysian composer Razak Abdul Aziz.

In addition to his journal publications, Dr. Fairuz is the author of Songs of the Kampung, published in Springer's Asia in Transition series, a Scopus-indexed scholarly book series that explores social, cultural, and artistic developments across Asia. He also serves as the Series Editor of Creative Research in Arts and Technology in Asia (CReATe Asia), a Springer book series dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research in the creative arts, technology, and innovation throughout the Asian region.

Beyond academia, Dr. Fairuz is an active composer. Since joining the Malaysian Composers Collective in 2022, he has premiered original works including Phrygian Fantasy (2023), Kenyalang Rhapsody (2022), and Two Miniatures (2022). During his tenure as resident arranger for Koir Kebangsaan Malaysia and Permata Seni Koir, he composed two commissioned works for the Department of Culture and Arts under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC): Nuance of Rebab Fantasy (2013) and Mek Mulung Cycle (2018). His choral arrangements continue to be performed in national and international competitions, frequently by award-winning ensembles.

As a performer, Dr. Fairuz has built a distinguished profile as a pianist and collaborative musician. He currently serves as the Kawai Grand Piano Ambassador of Malaysia, reflecting his commitment to artistic excellence and piano education. In June 2025, he was awarded the Prix de Perfectionnement à l’unanimité for outstanding performance at the Conservatoire International de Musique de Paris. His notable performances include Music of Johan Othman and Razak Aziz (2023), The Carnival of the Animals (2022) with the National Symphony Orchestra of Malaysia, and Beethoven’s 250th Birthday Celebration Concert (2021) at the German Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Dr. Fairuz is also an experienced adjudicator and educator. He has served as adjudicator for various national and international music competitions, including the MAME Folksong Festival (Piano Category) and the 2nd China-ASEAN Music and Arts Cultural Exchange in 2024. Reflecting his growing international profile, he was invited to serve as a faculty member of the MK Nextwave International Music Camp 2026 in Incheon, South Korea, where he contributed to the artistic and pedagogical development of emerging musicians from across the region.

His multifaceted contributions as a scholar, editor, author, composer, performer, educator, and arts leader continue to strengthen the visibility of Malaysian music and creative arts research on the international stage.