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Bahar Harandi is a coloratura soprano whose repertoire spans from Baroque to contemporary music. Her musical journey began with the violin at the age of seven, leading her to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance from the University of Art in Tehran. After settling in Canada, she continued her studies with a Master’s degree in Voice from the University of Victoria, followed by a Master’s degree in Voice and Opera with distinction from the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, as well as a postgraduate diploma from the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna).
Bahar has performed as a soloist with several orchestras and ensembles, notably in Mozart’s Mass in C minor and Vesperae solennes de confessore, alongside the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Choir. On stage, she has brought a diverse range of characters to life, including La fée (Cendrillon), Despina (Così fan tutte), Belinda (Dido and Aeneas), Dr. Blind (Die Fledermaus), as well as Cricket and Frantík (The Cunning Little Vixen).
Particularly committed to exploring new musical languages, Bahar works closely with composers and has premiered and performed several contemporary works in Canada at venues and festivals such as Montreal’s Bourgie Hall and the Stratford Festival. This encounter between tradition and innovation informs an artistic practice in which the voice becomes a vessel for memory, a material for creation, and a space for experimentation.
Alongside her performing career, Bahar is a concert programmer, artistic director, and co-founder of Paisley Duo, an ensemble bringing together soprano and violin. She has been invited to curate concerts for Bourgie Hall as part of its 2024 and 2028–2029 seasons. Her artistic commitment also extends to teaching: she has taught voice, violin, and music theory for over fifteen years, sharing a musical practice shaped by the intersection of diverse musical and cultural traditions.
In 2023, Bahar was a semi-finalist in the Ningbo International Vocal Competition in China. Her achievements have also been recognized through several distinctions, including the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal Excellence Scholarship, the Gabrielle-Lavigne Scholarship, and the Adjudicator’s Award and Operatic Award at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival. Through performance, creation, programming, and teaching, she continues to develop a multifaceted artistic practice driven by curiosity, dialogue, and a desire to make music resonate across borders.