Rasa Mahmoudian headshot

Rasa Mahmoudian

Violinist, Educator, and Cultural Storyteller

Rasa (he/him) is an Iranian-born violinist and violist whose work bridges cultures through music and education. A passionate performer and educator, he brings the sounds of underrepresented communities to life, drawing from Western, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Eastern European traditions. Rasa has performed with orchestras across the United States and Iran and was a core member of Chicago’s Crossing Borders Music, an ensemble dedicated to sharing music from marginalized cultures.

Deeply committed to education, Rasa has taught through Trala, an innovative music-learning platform, and Ravinia’s Reach-Teach-Play program, which promotes access to music in underserved communities. He co-founded Mahsu Duo, a violin-piano collaboration presenting programs that weave together diverse cultural narratives with a classical repertoire. In addition to violin and viola, Rasa explores Middle Eastern music and global instruments such as the Oud and the Venezuelan Cuatro, expanding his sound world across traditions. Through performance and teaching, he invites audiences and students to discover the richness of human stories through music.

Featured Artworks

  •  Rasa Mahmoudian artwork Reflections of the Arab World
  •  Rasa Mahmoudian artwork DG Art & Photography
  •  Rasa Mahmoudian artwork Armenian Music of Remembrance
  •  Rasa Mahmoudian artwork Crossing Borders Music with composer Chinary Ung
  •  Rasa Mahmoudian artwork DG Art & Photography
  •  Rasa Mahmoudian artwork Educational Program at Ravinia