Zeynep Ayşe Hatipoglu, (1990, Istanbul) is a cellist, composer and improviser. Coming from a classical background, she later moved to contemporary music and sound art practices. Her works include electroacoustic compositions, open formed acoustic pieces, site-specific performances, sound installations and interdisciplinary projects. Her performances are derived from free improvisation and contemporary/new music to Turkish Makam music.
She took part in various improvisatory and experimental music projects. Her latest duo album with Fulya Ucanok, iKKi Duo’s “Nine Stage of Note Arriving” was released in 2023 as a comprovisation project with cello, objects, piano and electronics. In 2019, she participated in the Klank.ist ensemble, released their album in 2021 “V.Dialogues,” which was performed and composed by the ensemble members; Eda Er, Aslı Kobaner, Fulya Ucanok. In 2020, she released her first collaborative album “Birinci Hane” (First Home) with the SAVT improvisation trio in Istanbul with Merve Salgar and Elif Canfeza Gündüz. Her solo electroacoustic composition, “MAERSK,” was included in the compilation album “String Layers” by 7k! Berlin records in 2020. Since 2019, she is a member of the experimental music collective Heya Sounds with Jilliene Sellner, Nour Sokhon, Yara Mekawei, which connects women musicians from the UK, Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey with each other and a wider audience by sharing sound and experimental music practices.
She was an artist in residence at SCHIESSLHAUS AiR, Kollnburg, Germany in 2023, Field Kitchen Academy Silence with the Consent of Sound in Berlin 2019 and One Beat Exchange Program, Istanbul in 2016. She studied as a cellist and composer in Eurogenetic classical music and Turkish makam music at the Conservatory of Istanbul University and the State Conservatory for Turkish Music at the Istanbul Technical University (ITU TMDK). She completed her Master’s degree at Music Theory and Composition at ITU TMDK, where she worked as a research and teaching assistant. She completed her Ph.D. in 2022, at the ITU Center for Advanced Studies in Music (MIAM) with her practice-based research titled “A practice-based research on musical improvisation : Collaborative Improvisation as a play”. She collaborates with artists, conducts workshops, and is a member of SAVT, Klank.ist ensemble, and HEYA Sound Project and iKKi Duo and currently lives in Berlin, Germany.
Photo Credit: Timo Nasseri