Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat

• Saturday 6 June 2015, 7.30PM
• £13 (concessions £11, students £5), NCEM Box Office, 01904 658338
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• National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate, YO1 9TL (map)

Wheelchair accessible

Event details

Sisters Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat are two brave and inspiring vocalists from Iran. Accompanying themselves on plucked setar and frame drum, their voices interweave in a magical web of sound which had the audience transfixed at last year's WOMAD Festival. What's all the more remarkable given their international acclaim, is that under Iranian Islamic law they are prohibited from performing publicly at home. This event is part of Songlines Encounters Festival On Tour 2015. Songlines Encounters Festival is co-curated by Songlines magazine and Ikon Arts Management.

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Mahsa Vahdat

Born in Tehran in 1973, Mahsa Vahdat began learning music from an early age. She took piano lessons and received Persian singing instructions from various musicians in Iran. She also plays the Persian string instrument setar. She entered Tehran Arts University in 1993 and graduated with a BA in Music.

Since 1995 Mahsa has performed as an independent singer and musician in many concerts and festivals in Asia, Europe, the US and Africa together with musicians from Iran, Europe and America. She has also appeared on stage with her sister Marjan Vahdat in many concerts. Following her participation in Lullabies from the Axis of Evil (2004), Mahsa started a long-lasting collaboration with the Norwegian record label Kirkelig Kulturverksted (KKV), which led to a world-wide release of a series of records. Since 2007 Mahsa is one of the ambassadors of Freemuse Organization, an independent international organization that advocates freedom of expression for musicians and composers worldwide. In 2010, she was granted the Freemuse Award.

Marjan Vahdat

Was born in Tehran in 1976 she started music by taking lessons in piano and Persian singing with different Masters in Music. She has been taking part in many international festivals and concerts in Germany, Norway, Italy, France, Sweden, Bahrain, England, Spain, Poland, Swiss, USA, Turkey. She has worked with many composers in Iran and also other countries. Marjan Vahdat also cooperates with Freemuse Organization, Freemuse is an independent international organization that advocates freedom of expression for musicians and composers worldwide.

Additional links

Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat promotional video

Watch Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat on YouTube

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