The details of his funeral ceremony have yet to be announced, his family announced, adding that it would be better that Qanbari-Mehr’s ceremony not coincide with that of Houshang Ebtehaj, who died on Wednesday, in order to have commendable programs for both artists, IRNA wrote.

Born on August 1, 1928, he quit school at age 11 due to financial difficulties. He began working in a carpentry workshop.

He was a student of Abolhassan Saba, whose training for Qanbari-Mehr was not limited playing an instrument, but also to manufacturing violins.

Saba had introduced Qanbari-Mehr to Soren Araklyan, a writer who emigrated from Russia and had authored the book ‘Monverni’. Since then, Qanbari-Mehr worked with Araklyan, who headed the Fine Arts Department and ended up employing Qanbari-Mehr.

After Saba’s death, Qanbari-Mehr went to Watlo instrument-making school in France to hone his skills.

Qanbari-Mehr ended up completing a master’s degree in instrument-making and returned home to Iran where he opened his own workshop and made more violins, for art schools and individuals.

During the 1969 exhibition of Iranian instruments, Qanbari-Mehr’s violin was purchased by a famous violinist who ended up playing it in several performances.

Iran’s Music Office Director Mohammad Allahyari, Deputy Culture Minister for Artistic Affairs Mahmoud Salari and others expressed their condolences over the death of the great artist.