Yoeun Mek

[1] The program, in its quest to preserve Khmer music, sought out Cambodia's "nearly extinct instruments and the people who can make and play them.

[4][1] He also knew enough about the khim, takhay, drums and chheng to include them in his teaching traditional wedding songs.

[1] His friend may have saved his life by begging the soldiers to let Yoeun play with the small group that entertained them.

[4] After the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979, Yoeun worked for his country's new government, in the State Department of Art and Culture until he retired.

[4] He set up a barbershop and was found by his friend Arn, who hired him to teach his instrument at the Cambodian Master Performers Program.

Wat Bo , Siem Reap , Cambodia. November 2001. Khmer Master Musician Yoeun Mek tries to play the one-stringed kse diev instrument for the first time. [ 1 ] Mek met Sok Duch , who was the only surviving master of that instrument, teaching at Wat Bo in 2001. [ 1 ]