Nima Safaei

Nima began playing the santour at the age of six under the guidance of his father (Naser Safaei), who was not only his first teacher but also a deeply loving and inspiring mentor for over seven years. Nima’s musical journey has been profoundly influenced by masters like Faramarz Payvar and Parviz Meshkatian, whose innovation and contributions to Persian classical music have left a lasting impact. His first formal training was based on Elementary Radif for Santour by Faramarz Payvar (1988), a foundational work that shaped his early technique and understanding of the repertoire.
In addition to his musical path, Nima holds a PhD in Engineering and currently works in the financial industry as a data scientist. He is also an active performer and educator—one of the founding members of the Ân Trio Ensemble (established in Toronto, Canada, in 2018) and a private Santour instructor. Over the years, he has composed several original pieces for Santour and developed effective teaching methods tailored for both children and adults.