Mahsa Shahbazian is an exceptionally talented Iranian musician, composer, and Qanun player. Born in Tehran in 1984, she began her musical journey at the age of eight, learning piano with Arman Nahrvar. After completing her general studies, she enrolled in Tehran Music Conservatory at 22, where she studied under prominent professors like Mohsen Elhamian and Klara Bukochava. Her musical repertoire expanded as she started playing the Tar under the guidance of Mohammad Reza Ebrahimi and later pursued Qanun at Tehran Art University with distinguished instructors such as Amir Eslami, Parichehr Khajeh, Kourosh Matin, Reza Parvizade, Hosein Mehrani, Sourena Sefati, and Qmars Piraglu.
Mahsa’s dedication to contemporary music led her to collaborate with Iranian composer Alireza Mashayekhi, performing and recording albums with him. She further refined her skills through master classes with Göksel Baktagir in Tehran and private lessons with Müslüm Karaduman in Turkey. Her exploration of Sufi music under Julien Bernard Jalaleddin Wise also significantly influenced her artistic development.
Throughout her career, Mahsa has performed with various ensembles such as Rastak, Sanam, and Tida, participating in prestigious festivals like the Fadjr Music Festival in Iran and the Klangwertage Festival for New Music in Germany. She has contributed to international events, including the HighFest Performing Arts Festival in Armenia and the Slemani International Film Festival.
In addition to her performance career, Mahsa has been an educator at several music schools, including Pars Music School, Rangahang Music School, Lena Complex, and ORFF Music Academy. She continues to teach privately, both online and in person.
Mahsa’s notable recordings include collaborations with Mohammad Reza Ebrahimi on the album Firouzeh and Alireza Mashayekhi on “White Cactus.” Her achievements include a Silver Medal at the Global Music Awards for “Ay Işığında,” a Turkish Folk Duo collaboration with Maryam Arvanaghi, and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Yunus Emre Institute.