Tuesday, November 25 – Tria Lorenz Hall – Kazina Palace – Academy of Music, Kongresni trg 1, Ljubljana
Cooperation between the Academy of Music and the Spectrum Festival
PROGRAM
J. Brahms: Violin Sonata No:1 Op.78 –I. Vivace ma non troppo II. Adagio III. Allegro molto moderato
P. Tchakovsky: Nur Wer Die Sehnsucht Kennt (Arr. by Mischa Elman) S. Rachmaninov: Romance Op. 6 No:1
Dvorak Songs: My Mother Taught Me (Arr. Kreisler)
P. Tchaikovsky: Aries des Lensky From Eugene Onegin (Arr. L. Auer) S. Rachmaninov: Vocalise Op.34 No.14
Karaev Adagio from “7 Beauties” Ballet Suite
Faruk Eren Akçay was born in Ankara in 1992 and began his musical education in 2003 at Hacettepe University State Conservatory. He graduated with high honors from Anadolu University State Conservatory in 2015. Combining a distinguished artistic and academic career, Akçay has been part of Turkey’s leading music institutions and has collaborated with internationally renowned artists.
Throughout his education, he actively participated in masterclasses with celebrated musicians such as Prof. Mario Hossen, Prof. Michael Frischenschlager, Prof. Mikhail Godsteiner, Prof. Gérard Poulet, Prof. Alexander Vinnitsky, Marisa Blanes, Luciano Sarmiento, Mincho Minchev, Itzhak Rashkovsky, and Shlomo Mintz. In addition, he pursued in-depth studies in solo and chamber music with Prof. Emile Cantor, Jozsef Lendvay, and Prof. Orhan Ahıskal.
In 2014, Akçay made his solo debut with the Vratsa State Philharmonic Orchestra in Bulgaria. Since then, he has performed with numerous prestigious ensembles, including the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Limak Philarmonic Orchestra, Side Festival Orchestra, Olten Philharmonic Orchestra, and Philharmonic Antalya. His concert activities have taken him across Europe, with performances in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Bulgaria. He has had the privilege of working under the baton of distinguished conductors such as Krzysztof Penderecki, Francesco Ivan Ciampa and Lior Shambadal.
Akçay earned both his Master’s degree and Doctorate in Musical Arts (Sanatta Yeterlik) at Anadolu University Graduate School of Fine Arts under the supervision of Gülen Ege Serter, where he refined his artistic expertise alongside scholarly research. Currently serving as Assistant Professor of Violin at Ankara Music and Fine Arts University, he continues to inspire the next generation of musicians while contributing to the advancement of Turkey’s artistic vision.
Cem Türkay was born in Ankara in 1991 and began his musical training with private lessons from Kemal Eroğlu. In 1997, he was awarded a full scholarship to the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts at Bilkent University, where he commenced his elementary education under the guidance of Aylin Özuğur.
During his studies, Türkay quickly distinguished himself as a promising young pianist. In 2006, he gave a recital at the 1st Pera Piano Festival in Istanbul and was awarded fourth prize at the Onay Sanat Piano Competition the same year. Throughout his years at Bilkent University, he studied with distinguished teachers including Aylin Özuğur, Prof. Hande Dalkılıç, Emre Şen, and Prof. Gülnara Aziz. He graduated in 2014 with High Honors, ranking first in both his faculty and department.
Between September 2014 and September 2016, Türkay served as a répétiteur at Bilkent University’s Faculty of Music and Performing Arts. In 2015, he began his Master’s studies in Performance at Başkent University State Conservatory under the supervision of Prof. Gülüm Sürmen Ötenel, completing the program in 2019. From 2016 to 2021, he worked as a répétiteur at both Ankara University State Conservatory and the Department of Music and Fine Arts at Middle East Technical University (METU).
From September 2021 to January 2023, Türkay returned to Bilkent University as a répétiteur for string instruments and vocal performance. Since 2023, he has been appointed as Lecturer and répétiteur at the Faculty of Performing Arts, Ankara Music and Fine Arts University, where he continues to combine his artistry with pedagogy, supporting young musicians in developing their interpretive and technical skills.