On Wednesday, April 8th, 7:30 p.m., the Grace Goudy Distinguished Artists Series, presents Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat who are internationally acclaimed singers and musicians from Iran living in the San Francisco Bay area.

Willamette pianist James Miley and other guest artists will also perform at this concert.

Price: General admission: $25; Seniors $5; Willamette University faculty and staff $10. All Students and children are admitted free.

Their public master-class for WU students will be on Tuesday April 7, 2026, 9:10am in Hudson Hall. This is free and open to the public to observe.

Marjan Vahdat “Put all activities aside, keep out all disturbing sounds and immerse yourself one hundred percent in the singing of one of the strongest voices I have ever heard”. —Rootstime

The Iran born singer Mahsa Vahdat has one of the most beautiful voices in the universe, so intense, so mystic, so passionated that it can express the deepest longing, sorrow and pain that exists.
—Lira

Mahsa and Marjan are dedicated to both their personal, lifelong musical and artistic path and the greater cause of freedom of expression. Mahsa 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.

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.