Hawar Tawfiq was born in Iraqi Kurdistan and learned the violin from Kurdish teachers who had studied with Russians in Baghdad. He fled to the Netherlands in 1998 and was granted asylum after years of legal battles. In 2008, he completed his master's degree in violin and distinguished himself in composition in 2011.
Hawar Tawfiq is one of the most prolific Dutch composers today. He has collaborated with several international ensembles and orchestras.