Born in 1980 in Tehran, Iran, Araz Salek immigrated to Canada in 2005 and now lives in Toronto. He began playing and learning the tar (Persian lute) at the early age of eight under the instruction of the Tofigh Iranparvar. He continued his studies of Iranian classical repertoire, vocal and instrumental radifs under the supervision of acknowledged master tar players Hooshang Zarif and Arshad Tahmasebi.

Tar-Araz Salek

Since moving to Toronto, Salek has been teaching at Iranian music schools. He has also been a guest lecturer/performer at the Labyrinth Musical Workshop in Crete, Greece.

Tar-Araz Salek

He released his first and critically-acclaimed solo CD Birth in 2008, and continues to be very active as a musician, performing regularly at festivals and concerts in Greece, France, and Canada. In 2007 he co-founded the Shiraz Ensemble, a small Iranian music ensemble that has played across Ontario and Quebec.

Tar-Araz Salek

Since 2012 he has been part of the Toronto / Crete quartet "This Tale of Ours", with Pedram Khavarzamini, Kelly Thoma, and Ross Daly. Their music draws on Ottoman, Cretan, Balkan, and Azeri, as well as Persian sources.

Tar-Araz Salek

Salek also plays often as a guest artist or in ad-hoc ensembles, playing Iranian music as well as experimenting with new groupings and forms. He was the curator and performer in a large ensemble playing the work of American composer Adam Rudolph.

Tar-Araz Salek

He currently is the Artistic Director at Labyrinth Ontario.

Tar-Araz Salek