Assoc. Prof. Dr Cevdet Erek and Assoc. Prof. Yelda Özgen from Istanbul Technical University (MIAM) in Turkey are visting Elektronmusikstudion as part of an exchange project between Elektronmusikstudion and MIAM initiated by the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul.
Yelda Özgen, born in Ankara, studied cello, chamber music and orchestra at Istanbul University State Conservatory. She graduated from Mimar Sinan University, Department of Mathematics in 1996 and continued her cello studies with Reyent Bölükbaşı at Istanbul Technical University (MIAM), graduating with a master’s degree in 2002.
Özgen has given a number of solo and chamber music concerts and played in Cemal Reşit Rey Symphony Orchestra and Enka Sinfonietta. As a member of the Anatolia Ensemble, she took part in various festivals in Turkey and abroad. Özgen is also featured on two CD’s, “Ege ve Balkan Dansları” and “Itri ve Meragi” with the same ensemble. As a member of the Aşkın Ensemble, Özgen has performed in several venues. In 2009, Özgen completed her Doctorate Degree in Music at MIAM. She is now teaching cello as an associate professor at Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music Conservatory and working as the director of the Istanbul Technical University Dr. Erol Üçer Center for Advance Studies in Music (MIAM)
Cevdet Erek, born in Istanbul, lives and works there. During and after studying architecture at Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts, Erek worked at various architectural practices as well as in the music band Nekropsi. He received his Masters degree in Sound Engineering & Design and his PhD in Music at İTÜ MIAM Center for Advanced Studies in Music. He was an Artist-in-Residence at Rijksakademie in Amsterdam in 2005-2006. He is current a member of the faculty at İTÜ TMDK and İTÜ MIAM, taught courses İTÜ Architecture Faculty.
Erek’s site specific installations and performances were shown at Singapore Biennale (2022), Manifesta 14 Prishtina (2022), Hamburger Bahnhof Museum (2020), 57. Venice Biennial – Pavilion of Turkey (2017), Documenta(13) (2012), Istanbul Biennial (2003, 2013, 2015), among others. Solo exhibitions of his work were organized by Art Institute of Chicago, titled “chiçiçiçichiciçi” (2019) and “AAAAA”, M HKA, Antwerp among others. Published books of his works are: ”SSS – Shore Scene Soundtrack” (2008, BAS), “Room of Rhythms 1” (2012, Walther König), “Less Empty Maybe” (2015, Revolver/Artist) and “ÇIN” (2017, IKSV/Yapı Kredi Kültür Sanat). He received the Nam June June Paik Media Art Prize given by Kunststiftung NRW (2012). His album “Davul”, based on solo improvisations made by the regional bass drum davul was released by Subtext Recordings, Berlin (2017).