Emine Bostancı ıs an award-wınnıng

classical kemenche performeR

Emine Bostancı is an award-winning classical kemenche performer, composer and academician. Her passion for music has invigorated her to cultivate the arts of singing and performing the Cretan Lyra with sympathetic strings.

Educatıonal background

She was born in Istanbul, where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree as top of her department in Ottoman-Turkish Classical Music (Yıldız Technical University, ’16).

She followed a music education from a young age (9). Until the time she moved to the Netherlands in pursue of an international music career, she studied classical kemenche with Derya Turkan, Mahinur Özüstün and Aslıhan Özel; Ottoman-Turkish makam theory with Ruhi Ayangil, Fikret Karakaya and Özer Özel. To top off her musical education, grand master Ihsan Özgen provided guidance on her classical kemenche performance.

During her Bachelor education, she combined her study with Musicology and worked with Prof. Dr. Alper Maral. In the same period, she learned how to build a kemenche to explore her instrument more intimately by assisting one of the most renowned luthiers of Istanbul: Fehmi Kılınçer.

In 2016, she moved to the Netherlands for her MA study at Codarts, University of Arts. During her study, she had a great chance to work with the celebrated artist Kudsi Erguner.

After her MA studies, she worked as a fellow researcher at University of Leiden. There, she classified the Dutch musicologist Wouter Swets’s collection as a specialist on Turkish music.

Currently, she is carrying out a PhD research on the experimental works in Ottoman-Turkish instrumental makam music, at University of Amsterdam.

Activities

Throughout her musical career, Emine has been performing in established venues and has shared the stage with prominent musicians.

Artists

Naseer Shamma
Kudsi Erguner
Ashraf Sharif Khan
Bart Schneemann
Martin Fonds
Alex Simu
Thanasis Polykandriotis
Waed Bou Hassoun
Sokratis Sinopoulos
Eric van der Westen
Johan van der Linden
Ardashes Agoshian
Wilmar de Visser
Hussein Zahawy
Sjahin During

Concert Halls and Festivals

Royal Concertgebouw
Royal Theater Carré
Pierre Boulez Saal
Philharmonie Luxembourg
De Doelen
Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall
Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore
Angers-Nantes Opera
Montpellier National Opera
International Theater Amsterdam
Stadsscouwburg Rotterdam
Theater aan het Vrijtof
Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ
TivoliVredenburg
Bimhuis
Zuiderstrandtheater
Paradiso Amsterdam
Muziekgebouw Eindhoven
Festival Rencontres des Cinemas D’europe
Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival
Old Roots New Routes Festival
Amsterdam Roots Festival
Newlands Festival
Medfest

Additionally, she participated as a soloist for the Presidential Turkish Classical Music Choir (2019, CRR Concert Hall) and as a soloist for the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble (2019, Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam).

Honor and Awards

First Prize at the Young Instrumentalists Competition by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture (2016).

Codarts Talent Award by the Codarts, University of Arts Rotterdam (2018).

Bachelor Graduation (High Honour), Yildiz Technical University; First place.

Master Graduation, Codarts, University of Arts; Highest mark (10/10).

Projects

Dareyn

(2020-current)

Dareyn–which refers to two worlds in Ottoman language–was founded by Emine Bostanci in 2020, as a means to present her musical vision by collaborating with inspiring musicians.

The music of Dareyn combines the mystical sound of the kemenche – with its heritage of traditional music originating from Istanbul and the Silk Road – and the deep-rooted sound of the cello in a contemporary fashion. The musicians Emine Bostanci and Maya Fridman blend their vocal talents with their instrumental expertise, creating a uniquely mesmerising soundscape.

The repertoire takes its inspiration from the beauty of modality, the dynamic character of bowing and the rich world of rhythms. Their music creates dialogues where the existence of unspoken narratives is present in the imagination of each listeners.

Dareyn’s first EP is in collaboration with percussionist Jacobus Thiele (DE). It will be released on the 19th March under TRPTK label.

Mundus Quartet

(2019-2020)

Emine Bostanci founded the Mundus Quartet (2019) with great support of Sjahin During. Their debut album Live at Old Roots New Routes was released in 2020.

“The music of Mundus Quartet combines the heritage of timeless traditions stemming from the broad world of the contemporary modal, makam and Sufi music originated from the Silk Road. The musicians, anchored in a vigorous tradition, are in a phase with today’s world and more than ever receptive the other musical styles. The goal of its music is to carry on the tradition of modal composition from a contemporary perspective.”

Musical Theater

TOSCA, Theater Rast, (dir. Celil Toksoz), 2019.

Wees Onzichtbaar, Podium Mozaiek-Theater Rast (dir. Saban Ol), 2020.

Oogentroost, Theater Rast (dir. Aysugul Karaca), 2020-2021.

Scholarships and Grants

Scaliger Institute Fellowship (2018-2019)

Stichting Bekker – Le Bastide Fonds (2017-2018)

Van Beek – Donner Stichting (2017-2018)

Schuurman Schimmel-van Outeren Stichting-Research Grant (2017-2018)

Fonds Podiumkunsten-Composition Grant (2020)