Joanna Davies tunes into Kamran Khodaverdian and a very old new sound in music.
Kamran Khodaverdian holds two slim mallets over a wooden instrument with metal strings. As he plays, groups of people stop to listen to the harp-like sounds.
The Iranian musician knows no one else here who plays the santour.
"I might be the only one," he says.
In Iran, he trained as a classical pianist and composed music for Iran's National Symphonic Orchestra and films. In Auckland, he is relatively unknown.
"I came to New Zealand three years ago to be closer to my family who already live here. But not many people here know my music and, because of my language skills, it has been hard to contact people in music here."
Mr Khodaverdian, who was born and raised in Tehran, says Iranian music is very different to Western classical music. "I was trained with Western music rules, and I join those with Iranian scales. Our music tells a very different story; it is very deep."
He has just recorded a CD and is enrolling at the University of Auckland's music school.
"I have private qualifications but no university ones. A university qualification will help me make connections with other musicians here.
"It's a new country and a new language and a new culture, so I have a lot to learn."
The Henderson resident started playing piano when he was 10. "My father was a musician and I was interested in music when I was young," he says. "Now I am here, I want people to hear our cultural traditions, too."
Kamran Khodaverdian is performing to help pay for his university tuition: Glen Eden Playhouse Theatre, Feb 26, 7.30pm. Tickets: www.iticket.co.nz
