YEE London welcomed Harvard-trained ethnomusicologist and violinist Audrey Wozniak

Yunus Emre Enstitüsü - London welcomed Harvard-trained ethnomusicologist and violinist Audrey Wozniak for a truly extraordinary evening of music and conversation On 5 December 2024. The event brought together an audience of diverse backgrounds, from music enthusiasts and academics to those simply curious about the profound connections between culture and sound. Centered on the rich tradition of meşk—the Turkish method of oral transmission—the evening offered an unparalleled exploration of cross-cultural artistry and connection, creating a space where the universal language of music resonated deeply with all present.During the concert, Audrey Wozniak showcased a rich selection of Turkish classical and folk music, demonstrating her mastery and deep connection to the repertoire. She opened with the intricate Nikriz Sirto, setting the tone with its vibrant energy and rhythmic complexity. As the evening unfolded, pieces like Nihavend Saz Semaisi by Mesut Cemil and Muhayyer Kurdi Saz Semaisi further highlighted the beauty of Turkish microtonality and rhythmic structures.

 
A particularly memorable moment came with the performance of Fikrimin İnce Gülü, where the audience enthusiastically joined in, singing along to this cherished melody, creating an atmosphere of unity and warmth. Audrey concluded the concert with the lively Çeçen Kızı, leaving everyone in high spirits and celebrating the dynamic essence of Turkish music.  
Throughout the performance, Audrey masterfully demonstrated her years of dedication to understanding and embodying the nuances of Turkish musical traditions. She shared personal reflections on the transformative nature of her decade-long journey into meşk, a path that not only challenged her Western-trained musical perceptions but also expanded her understanding of cultural identity and artistic expression. Her ability to infuse her performance with both technical precision and emotional authenticity captivated the audience, creating a bridge between seemingly distinct musical worlds.

 
Through her music and words, Audrey shared the challenges and triumphs of retraining her Western-trained ears to embrace the intricacies of Turkish musical traditions. She detailed how this immersion required not only learning a new musical vocabulary but also unlearning certain ingrained habits of listening and playing. This process, she explained, opened new pathways for artistic creativity and brought her closer to the spirit of Turkish music, which celebrates the interplay of individuality and tradition. Her journey illuminated how music can transcend boundaries, providing a space where cultural understanding and artistic innovation thrive.
 
The evening was further enriched by Audrey’s engaging storytelling, which brought to life her experiences with master musicians in Turkey, her practice of meşk, and the profound insights she gained along the way. These narratives added depth to her performance, allowing the audience to connect not only with the music but also with the cultural and historical contexts that shape it.
 
The evening culminated in a thought-provoking Q&A session, where audience members enthusiastically engaged with Audrey on a wide range of topics. Questions ranged from the technical aspects of microtonality, such as the interpretation of Turkish makamlar (modes), to broader discussions on the role of music in fostering intercultural dialogue.  
This event was more than a concert; it was a celebration of music’s power to connect, transform, and inspire. Audrey Wozniak’s performance and her reflections on cultural immersion left an indelible mark on all who attended. The evening underscored not just the beauty of Turkish musical traditions but also the potential of art to build bridges, deepen empathy, and encourage exploration across cultures.

 
AUDREY WOZNIAK:
Audrey Wozniak started playing violin at age six after seeing internationally renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman perform on the children’s television show Sesame Street. After years of formal training in Western classical music, she won the prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship and spent a year working with musical masters in Türkiye, China, and Indonesia. Since that time, she has emerged as a genre-defying performer of diverse styles and traditions from around the world. She has performed in over 12 countries with multiple Grammy Award-winning ensembles and artists. Audrey's collaborations span from cutting-edge contemporary classical to performances of traditional Ottoman and Turkish classical music featuring microtonality and improvisation. She runs a popular Instagram page (@audreywoz) sharing musical and cultural content related to Türkiye, and is looking forward to serving as the host as well as creator of “Türkiye'yi Dinliyorum [I’m Listening to Türkiye],” a musical travel documentary series for Turkish National Television. Audrey is also an accomplished interdisciplinary scholar with a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from Harvard University. She has received numerous academic fellowships, published peer-reviewed academic research in multiple fields, and served as an expert for documentaries, podcasts, and research institutes. Her unique approach to music-making and scholarship invites audiences to reimagine community, sound, and space through innovative and cross-cultural experiences. For more, please see www.audreywoz.com 
 

Yunus Emre Institute (Turkish: Yunus Emre Enstitüsü) is the Republic of Türkiye’s cultural institute. Established in 2007, the organisation has over 90 branches worldwide. Through cultural diplomacy, the Institute aims to increase awareness of Turkish culture, support the learning of the Turkish language and to stimulate greater exchange in the fields of arts, culture, science, education. Since opening its doors in London in 2010, Yunus Emre Institute has become an improving the bonds of friendship between Türkiye and the United Kingdom.