Sok Duch is the last master of the one-stringed kse diev to survive the Khmer Rouge. Now extremely rare, the kse diev dates to Angkorean times, and is pictured on the walls of the Bayon temple.
When Sok Duch was 40 years old, the Khmer Rouge came to power, and as a musician Sok Duch was at risk. Fortunately, Sok Duch and his musical background were protected from the Khmer Rouge by family and friends to whom he had previously opened his home in a spirit of generosity. Those children that had once doted on him grew up to be Khmer Rouge soldiers, who repaid his generosity by protecting his identity from other, vengeful Khmer Rouge soldiers.
Master Sok Duch is also widely known as one of the best instrument makers of Cambodian classical wedding instruments alive today. He teaches classical wedding music, an extremely ancient and rare form of wedding music, as well as instrument making in Takeo province. He has been a CLA Teacher since 2001.