Bio

Zeynep Ayşe Hatipoğlu is a cellist, improviser, composer, and researcher from Istanbul, based in Berlin. With a background in Eurogenetic music, Turkish makam music, and later improvisation and experimental music, main approach is grounded in exploring ways to address and reinterpret musical genres through sonic engagements, improvisational performances, and experimentation. Practice focuses on composition, improvisation, collaborative projects, sound installations, site-specific works, and creating socially and culturally engaged musical acts. The form of music primarily involves acoustic cello improvisations, electronic processing, and electroacoustic compositions. Interested in dynamics of musical acts as a state of creative synchronization, exploration of ‘oneness with others’ fosters small-scale supportive communities.

Performs concerts in Berlin, Istanbul, and internationally, both as a soloist and in various collaborations. Curates concert series; na-mute-na (Istanbul, 2016), Bonding Sounds (Berlin, 2023, curated with Merve Salgar), Golgatha Improvisation Series (Berlin 2024, curated with Ulrike Ruf), and Friday Night Improvisations (Berlin 2025, curated with Ruf).  Solo sound installation “I don’ know how my homeland fares” exhibited in Salt Beyoğlu, Winter Garden in Istanbul (2024), electroacoustic composition “MAERSK” was included in the compilation album “String Layers” by 7k! Berlin Records in 2020. Compositions performed at music festivals such as the Journey of Sound Festival in Turkey, the Bilgi New Music Festival in Istanbul, and BEAST FEaST. 

Ongoing music collaborations include a duo with Ulrike Ruf (cellist, sound artist), duo with Fulya Uçanok, iKKi Duo. iKKi Duo’s “Nine Stages of Note Arriving,” and “Wandering Rocks,” 2023, as a comprovisation project featuring cello, objects, piano, and electronics. In 2021, the Klank.ist ensemble released the album “V.Dialogues” together with Eda Er, Aslı Kobaner, and Fulya Uçanok, including the ensemble’s comprovisations. In 2020,  the album “Birinci Hane” (First Grade/Home) released with the SAVT free improvisation trio, with Merve Salgar on Tanbur and Elif Canfeza Gündüz on classical kemençe. 

In residence at the OneBeat Institute 2024 in New York with the project “Meşk,” developed by Ruşen Can Acet, focusing on teaching traditional music using digital tools. Artist-in-residence at Schiesslhaus AIR in Kollnburg, Germany, 2023. In 2019, artist in residence in Field Kitchen Academy Silence with the Consent of Sound in Berlin, and the One Beat Exchange Program in Istanbul, 2016.

Studied as a cellist and composer in conservatory education in Istanbul; Eurogenetic classical music and later Turkish makam music at the Conservatory of Istanbul University (part time studies) and the State Conservatory for Turkish Music at the Istanbul Technical University (ITU TMDK, (full time- high school & Double Major Bachelor Degree). Completed a Master’s degree in Music Theory and Composition at ITU TMDK, worked as a research and teaching assistant for seven years. During Master’s studies, focused on the cello improvisations of Turkish Makam music composer Tanbûrî Cemil Bey, analyzing the time-makam scale using Ozan Baysal’s “Zaman-Makam” analysis model. Completed Ph.D. in 2022 at the ITU Center for Advanced Studies in Music (MIAM), with practice-based research focused on the links between improvisational practices and the concept of play, titled “A Practice-based Research on Musical Improvisation: Collaborative Improvisation as a Play.” Living and working based in Berlin since 2013.