Bijan Kamkar was born in
1949 and is the lead singer for the group. He also plays tar,
robab, tombak and daf
- the Kurdish drum which he has introduced to the classical
Iranian repertoire. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Tehran.
Pashang Kamkar was born in
1951. He plays the santur, and is the conductor
of for the group. In 1969 Pashang himself became a santur teacher at the
Center Art and Culture in Sanandaj. He studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts
and has worked with Sanandaj Radio. Pashang has composed a number of accomplished
works, and is one of the founder members of "Shayda".
Ghashang Kamkar was born
in 1953 and is the only female member of the "brothers" and plays the setar
and the violin. She now teaches the setar to the
growing number of Iranian women who are interested in becoming musicians.
Arjang Kamkar was born in
1956. As a child he was interested in painting, and so came to Tehran
in 1978 to study art at the Faculty of Fine Arts. As he lived in a
family of musicians, he learned to play the Tombak,
which he played for many years as a member of the Art and Culture
Orchestra of Sanandaj.
Arsalan Kamkar was born in
1960. He has played violin in the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, and is also
an excellent barbat player. His compositions
are regularly performed and include a symphony called The Story of My Father's
Land, written with his brother Ardeshir.
Ardavan Kamkar was born in
1968, and was taught to play the santur by
his father when he was only four years old. Throughout his childhood he
belonged to numerous musical groups, and often appeared on local
radio. After seventeen years of santur playing, Ardavan has invented a
new technique, and is a gifted soloist and improviser. He has also
written a number of pieces and technical
The Kamkars,
a Kurdish family of seven brothers and a sister, are
undeniably one of the leading musical ensembles in Iran today. Their
repertoire ranges from the vast array of Kurdish music with its poignant,
entrancing melodies and uplifting high energy rhythms to the traditional
classical music of Iran. The repertoire of Kurdish music is richly diverse
and deeply-rooted in the ancient history and culture of its proud and
passionate people. It speaks of epic tales and wars, romantic love, and
recounts ancient myths and stories of national and religious heroes, some
of which date back to thousands of years to the time of the ancient Medes
(the ancestors of the Kurds).
Hooshang Kamkar was born
in 1947. He studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Tehran, the Sanat Chilipa
Academy in Rome, and the University of San Francisco. He is a prolific
composer, writer and translator. Among his best known compositions are,
The Victory of Bahman, Marigold, God Ship Martyrs, Abidar's Springs
and In Memory of Hafez.
Ardeshir Kamkar was born
in 1962. He came to Tehran in 1980 and continued his study of traditional
arrangements by Mohommed Reza Lotfi and his brother Pashang. Ardeshir has
always been keen to explore the range and capabilities of the kamancheh,
for which he has written a number of pieces and books.
etudes for the santur.