Kayhan Kalhor, Kamancheh
"Finding Home in the Music of Iran"

In the wake of the Iranian revolution, teenage Kayhan Kalhor left his homeland and family with nothing but a backpack and his beloved kamancheh (an Iranian bowed string instrument) in tow. Since that time, he has built an international reputation as one of the most famous performers and composers from Iran — touring with the New York Philharmonic; collaborating with John Adams as part of Carnegie Hall’s Perspectives Series; being nominated for five GRAMMY Awards; and winning a 2017 GRAMMY Award with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, of which he is an original member. And yet, the constantly shifting political situations in Iran and the U.S. have continued to complicate both his personal and his professional life. Get to know this extraordinary individual, who has continuously put his dedication to music and his culture above profound loss, anti-Muslim sentiment, and political unrest, in a conversation permeated by live performance, moderated by award-winning international correspondent Deborah Amos.

Co-Sponsored by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies and the Sharmin and Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies at Princeton University.

DON’T MISS IT: Kayhan Kalhor will also perform as part of the DoosTrio on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 6PM & 9PM. We highly recommend attending both events for the most comprehensive encounter with this extraordinary artist.