Hossein Salehi (Portland) is a master santoor player who has played and taught in Oregon and the United States since the 1980s.
Bio
Hossein Salehi is a master santoor player who started on his musical career at seven when he started learning this ancient traditional art form from his father, Maestro Abbas Salehi. The santoor, over 1100 years old and the national musical instrument of Iran (formerly Persia), is a trapezoid-shaped hammered dulcimer with 72 strings (18 sets of four) strung over small adjustable bridges to produce a range of three octaves. The player uses curved pieces of wood called hammers to produce the captivating sounds.
When Salehi and his family migrated to the United States in 1987, he was unable to bring his santoor. Frustrated and homesick, Salehi, with the help of a friend, built his first santoor. He recalls, “This type of instrument was unknown in Oregon and throughout the United States, and fellow Iranian-Americans did not have access to their heritage. I committed myself to creating opportunities for others to learn this art form in Oregon and in even in other states.”
Since his arrival in this country, Salehi has taught over 1000 students. His small, private lessons soon led to large annual recitals and local performances. Much to his delight, several of Salehi’s former students are now teachers themselves. In 2006, he started teaching at the annual seminars of Dulcimer Players of the United States for which he has presented traditional Persian music. In 2012 and 2013, Salehi was invited to present an advance applied music course at Portland State University. “I am fortunate enough to have learned this unique instrument since my childhood and continued developing my skills since 1956” he said.
