Salar Nader is one of the most sought-after young percussionists of his generation. Born in Hamburg, Germany, to Afghan parents forced to flee their home during the Russian-Afghan War, Salar was five years old when his family settled in San Francisco. At the age of seven, he began studying with the legendary tabla virtuoso Ustad Zakir Hussain. Salar eventually joined the music program at San Francisco State University, and later became part of a number of jazz ensembles. Hailed as Afghanistan’s preeminent tabla virtuoso, he is also an accomplished composer, producer and educator and can be heard on the soundtrack of the Hollywood blockbuster movie The Heat. In 2022, he made his Broadway debut in The Kite Runner as the onstage percussionist and music arranger.