Ardavan Kamkar is a Kurdish santur player who was born in 1968 in Sanandaj (Kurdistan/Iran). He is a member of the great ensemble Kamkaran.

He began learning to play the Santur (dulcimer) from his father, Master Hassan Kamkar at the age of 4. During his childhood years he worked with several Culture & Art groups and the radio. In 1979 he came to Tehran and after completion of Santur playing techniques, he studied instrumental and vocal musical orders under the supervision of his older brother Pashang Kamkar. Through cassettes and old records he became familiar with the playing styles of old composers and mastered their art. The traditional style of santur playing, however, did not suffice his creative and searching sould and he sought to expand the techniques and innovated a modern style for playing this national Iranian instrument.

Ardavan’s playing style and tuning techniques are utterly unique. The traditional method of santur playing usually assumes that the right hand is stronger than the left in terms of control and weight. Therefore, almost every phrase starts with the right hand, as do the accentuations within the phrases, which can be easily discerned by the trained listener. Ardavan, however, has developed the dexterity and strength of his left as well as his right hand, widening the santur’s technical range. The beginning of his phrases, tremolos and accentuations can be played by either hand with the same weight, and the roles of the right and left hands are interchangeable within a passage or phrase, giving an exceptional evenness and fluidity to his playing. He also has the extraordinary ability to play different melodies with each hand simultaneously.

In addition to playing the santur, Ardavan has taken music composition, harmony and counterpoint lessons with Houshang Kamkar and Arsalan Kamkar.

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