Mehrdad Arabi plays and teaches the kamanche, the chief bowed instrument in Persian classical and folk music dating back to antiquity. A very popular instrument, the kamanche is almost always present in the make-up of all sizes of classical Persian ensembles. Arabi has been playing his instrument for more than 25 years. He studied the instrument as well as the Persian radif at the Center for the Preservation of Music in Tehran with master musicians Mohammad Moghadassi, Davoud Ganjeie and Reza Rahimi Jafari. In addition to the kamanche, Arabi plays the tombak, daf, and violin. Arabi has performed extensively throughout the world and has made over 20 recordings.