Uuriintuya Khalivan (Mongolia) and Sadaf Amini (Iran) met in Montreal, sparking a musical journey at the Silk Roads’ crossroads. Together, they blend their unique musical backgrounds, where each note is a step on a meandering path. The duo celebrates their own respective cultures, woven together like a silk thread, searching for harmonies beyond borders and distances.

With the morin-khuur (horsehead fiddle) and santur (hammered dulcimer), they weave melodies, like threads of silk, reminiscent of paths across the desert and the steppes, echoing the timeless magic of the infamous Silk Road.

Uuriintuya Khalivan | Mongolia | Morin-Khuur

 Born in 1989 on the Mongolia Barag Grassland in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, Uuriintuya Khalivan is a skilled musician proficient in both the violin and horsehead fiddle. Graduating from the Music Performance Department of Ethnic Instruments at the Central Conservatory of Music, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree under the guidance of horsehead fiddle player Quan Sheng. Khalivan spent over 12 years as the sole horsehead fiddle soloist at the Chinese Coal Mine Art Troupe, achieving the national second-level performance title. She is committed to mastering her craft and representing Inner Mongolia’s cultural heritage.

Sadaf Amini | Iran | santour

Born in Tehran, Iran, Sadaf Amini began her musical journey at 12, mastering the Santur. After studying at the Tehran Music School, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Iranian Music Performance from Tehran University in 2012. She later pursued a Master’s Degree in Music Technology and Digital Media at the University of Toronto, graduating in 2018. Amini has graced numerous music festivals, winning accolades like the 2019 YGK Emerging Musician Competition in Kingston and the 2020 Kingston Film Festival Local Music Video Showcase Jury Prize. Collaborating with various ensembles, she’s performed in concerts and recorded albums, including her latest solo Santur release, “Flow”.