Hawar Tawfiq was born in Iraqi Kurdistan and learned the violin from Kurdish teachers studying with Russians in Baghdad. He fled to the Netherlands in 1998 and was granted asylum after years of legal battles. In 2008 he obtained a master's degree in violin and excelled in composition in 2011. Hawar Tawfiq is one of the most prolific Dutch composers today. He has worked with several national and international ensembles and orchestras.