We were lucky to catch up with Ezgi Karakus recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ezgi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
Growing up in Izmir, Turkey, I would spend hours playing popular Turkish songs on a toy keyboard. Despite my parents not having musical backgrounds, they fully supported my interest, signing me up for lessons in piano and guitar when I was 9. But, very quickly, we found out those instruments were not for me.
Despite this setback, I was determined to find my instrument. My parents began taking me to musical performances, and after attending The Bremen String Quartet, my mind was set to be a Cellist. The Cellist that night captivated my attention with his unique style and energy. So I told my parents enthusiastically, “I want to play that!”
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Currently, I am the Co-Director of Soundwave Academy, an organization that I co-founded that focuses on ear training/Solfege and chamber music.
I’m also a member of the internationally recognized performance group Ensemble Iberica, a cellist on the string trio Rewound, a section member of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, and a Teaching Artist at UMKC’s Conservatory Academy
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
At 12, I was accepted to the Dokuz Eylul University State Conservatory in Izmir, Turkey. Over the next 10 years, most of my time was spent practicing, performing, and joining musical festivals highlighted by The Bremen Youth Symphony in Germany. During my last year of undergrad in Turkey, a professor from Marshall University in West Virginia attended my performance. Soon after, I was on my way to join his Cello studio at Marshall on full scholarship. I had never been to The United States and didn’t speak a drop of English. Despite my hesitations, I was encouraged by loved ones to take this big risk of leaving my life in Turkey behind.
During my 3 ½ years at Marshall, I learned English, obtained a Master’s Degree in Cello Performance, performed in numerous symphony orchestras, including the Ohio Valley Symphony and West Virginia Symphony. This time was highlighted by winning first prize in The Jackson Blashaw Music Competition. My musical horizons were also broadened, having the opportunity to play in music festivals and conferences as well as joining a gypsy rock band, “Qiet.”
In 2013 I moved to Kansas City to pursue my Doctoral degree in Cello Performance at UMKC. I taught at Ottawa University, Missouri Western State University, and Emporia State University as a cello professor and chamber music coach during my doctoral studies. In March 2018, I was chosen to play at Yo-Yo Ma’s Master Class at the Kauffman Center of the Performing Arts premiering Dok Zulfunu Meydana Gel, a Turkish folk song I arranged.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Life is about believing in yourself and taking risks to achieve the goals and aspirations you have set. Some of the risks I’ve taken haven’t turned out like I planned or hoped. However, overcoming obstacles to reach your goals is the most rewarding experience in life. Succeeding and failing throughout life and my musical career has taught me to be competitive with myself and always push forward. Without taking risks and experiencing failure, I wouldn’t have learned this valuable lesson.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ezgikarakus.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cellist_zg/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ezgi.karakus.353
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezgi-karakus-bb7567153/
- Other: https://www.ezgikarakus.com/ https://soundcloud.com/cellist_zg https://music.apple.com/us/album/dok-zulfunu-meydana-gel-arr-for-solo-cello-single/1459047221 https://open.spotify.com/album/53Jnh6lpRHhaXiLshAdabA https://www.amazon.com/Zulfunu-Meydana-Arr-Solo-Cello/dp/B07QFCFBJJ