3. How has your experience as an Ahmet Ertegun Scholar impacted your work as a musician/artist?
There is actually a story about this scholarship that goes back to my father who is a guitarist. He told me that it was his dream to come to the United States as a young musician and meet with Mr. Ertegun. While he was unable to come to the States, I in a way achieved his dream by continuing my studies with the help of this scholarship. Receiving this scholarship certainly has been a reminder of the achievements of Turkish people in the music field, and it will continue to be a source of inspiration for me.
4. What is a piece or project that you worked on at Juilliard that you are most proud of?
One of the most important and enjoyable things you can do as a musician is chamber music. It has been incredibly rewarding to collaborate with other musicians at Juilliard since the level of dedication to music is so high! When each member in the group is passionate about making music together, the energy you feel on the stage and the connection you form with the audience greatly inspire you. As more and more concerts are starting to happen, I am very much looking forward to collaborating with more people and taking the stage.
5. What’s in the future for you?
As I am getting closer to the end of my undergraduate studies, I realized I want to get out of school and build more and more connections. New York has so much to offer to a musician, and it would be a shame to leave the city without collaborating with many people and performing in a variety of places. That being said, I will be auditioning for my master’s degree this year, and hopefully, I will study with my great professor Sergei Babayan for two more years. I am very proud to soon be a graduate of The Juilliard School, and I am grateful for the vision of Mr. Ertegun and The American Turkish Society.
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