Azerbaijani American Kamancha Master

Working as the Global Music Director for the San Francisco World Music Festival since 2012, Imamyar Hasanov is an internationally acclaimed virtuoso on kamancha and for his versatility as an arranger, bridging the vast divide between his traditional scales and those of other cultures. Having impressive credentials, he leads the field with his experience and vision to catapult Azeri music onto the world stage. As an artist of impeccable character, Mr. Hasanov is a uniquely gifted musician with numerous achievements in fostering the vitality and public appreciation of Azeri traditional music. With his extensive knowledge of both Azeri traditional and Western classical music, knowledge of many of the world’s traditional instruments, and innovative arranging technique, Mr. Hasanov has not only contributed to the preservation of Azeri traditional music, but has created a body of work which has brought this music to the forefront of both the classical and world music fields.

Imamyar Hasanov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan. He started playing the kamancha at the age of 7 and eventually became the youngest soloist in Azerbaijan's National Music Instruments Orchestra. He has a Master's Degree in Art and Music from the Azerbaijan State Conservatory named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov. Imamyar is a dynamic virtuoso who performs Azerbaijani and Middle Eastern traditional improvisations as well as European classics for the first time as a kamancha soloist. He organized the first tar, kamancha, and piano instrumental trio in Azerbaijan named “Gala” which took first place in competition “Seeking Talents” in Azerbaijan in 1996. Imamyar Hasanov is the winner of various national and classical music competitions in Azerbaijan and has participated in many music festivals all over the world. In 2013, Mr. Hasanov taught Azeri music as a Lecturer for the San Francisco World Music Festival Lectureship in the Department of Music at Stanford University.

His performance highlights include “Undiscovered Treasure Kamancha of Azerbaijan” at Georgetown University (2005), “Nowruz Project” at 6th San Francisco World Music Festival (2005), “Silk Road Bayram” at Indiana University (2005), “Best Kept Secret of World Music” at George Washington University (2007),“HereComes The Sea, Followed By The Ocean” at 8th San Francisco World Music Festival (2007), “The Reeds Give Way To The Wind” at 9th San Francisco World Music Festival (2008), “Nowruz in Istanbul” (2010), “Passage to Dawn” in Frankfurt, London, and Gothenburg (2010), Great Lake Folk Music Festival at Michigan University (2010), Richmond Folk Music Festival at Richmond Virginia (2011), “The Epic Project” at 12th San Francisco World Music Festival (2011), Symphony Space in New York (2012), “The Opera Project” at 13th San Francisco World Music Festival (2012), “Festival of the Silk Road” in San Jose (2013), “Old Roots, New Leaves” in Talary Hunar, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (2013), “The War Project” at San Francisco World Music Festival (2014), “The Sun Archer Overture” at San Francisco World Music Festival (2016).