Afshar’s personal story begins in her native Iran.  Born in Tehran to a family with ancient roots in the northern region of Azerbaijan, at ten years of age she first encountered the guitar while visiting a cousin who was taking lessons.  She told her father she loved the guitar; the next day he presented her with her first  instrument and arranged for lessons.  Her prodigious skill and love of music eventually led her to The Boston Conservatory, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music, and to The New England Conservatory, where she received her Master of Music.  At Florida State University she studied with the renowned Bruce Holzman and became the first woman in the world to be awarded the degree of  Doctor of Music in guitar performance.