Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat
Singers and Musicians
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Willamette University’s Rogers Music Center, Hudson Concert Hall
Mahsa Vahdat and Marjan Vahdat are internationally acclaimed singers and musicians from Iran living in the San Francisco Bay area, are dedicated to both their personal, lifelong musical and artistic path and the greater cause of freedom of expression. The sisters continue to interact with a diverse international audience that highly appreciates their art.
Mahsa Vahdat's artistic work has offered audiences around the globe a deeper appreciation of Iranian poetry and music. With her enchanting voice deeply rooted in the heritage of her beloved country Iran, and her innovative musical expression and wide-ranging repertoire, she has fearlessly defied the bans on music and solo women singers imposed by Iranian authorities after the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979.
Mahsa has developed a highly personal style of musical expression, rooted in Iranian classical and regional music, a traditional and complex system of modes, melodic motives, and ornamentation infused with contemporary and innovative expressions and influences.
Her musical expression transcends cultural and language boundaries, embracing the beauty of diversity and the universality of human sentiments.
Mahsa’s awards include the Freemuse Award (Denmark 2010), Independent Music Award (USA 2013), German Critics Award (2016), Songlines Best Album for “Traces of an Old Vineyard” (England 2015), and the Transglobal Award for the album “Placeless” with the Kronos Quartet (2019.
Marjan Vahdat is an Iranian award-winning singer and musician. Her career has given a deeper knowledge of Iranian poetry and music to large audiences in Europe, America, Asia, Oceania, and Africa.
Marjan has developed her personal style based on the Persian vocal tradition of classical and regional folk music, with a contemporary expression. She always searched for ways to make her music relevant to the present world. Even if the origin of her style is Iranian, she believes in her music’s ability to express a universal message of humanism and freedom.
She has developed a unique style of performance, rooted in Persian classical
and regional vocal music traditions, and infused with contemporary and innovative expressions and influences. Her many performances and recording projects include collaborations with many of the World's Most acclaimed musicians.
In 2003, Mahsa and her sister Marjan started a long-lasting collaboration with the Norwegian record label Kirkelig Kulturverksted (KKV) and producer and poet Erik Hillestad. This collaboration has led to a worldwide release of a series of award-winning and critically acclaimed albums.
Their performances and recording projects include collaborations with many of the world's most acclaimed musicians, including U.S. blues singer Mighty Sam McClain, the Kronos Quartet, Tord Gustavson, Teatr Zar and Grotowski institute, SKRUK Choir, Atabak Elyasi, and Bridget Kibbey.
Willamette pianist James Miley and other guest artists will also perform at this concert.
Their public master-class will be on Tuesday April 7, 2026.
Visit the Mahsa Vahdat website | Visit the Marjan Vahdat website