Born in Tehran (Iran) Showan Tavakol began his music studies playing the violin and later turned to the Kamancheh (Iranian bowed string instrument). Tavakol earned a music degree in ethnomusicology and composition. He is now composer-in-residence of l’Ensemble du Choeur de Trombone and Le Grand Ensemble Contemporain at the University of Montréal. Tavakol also composes music for documentaries, short and feature films, and plays Kamancheh in the contemporary Iranian ensemble Kamaan. He has several albums to his credit.