Deniz Mahir Kartal

Mahir posing with a guitar next to a vintage car

Deniz Mahir Kartal is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, masterfully playing traditional instruments like the Duduk and Kaval, alongside the Saxophone, Clarinet, Çağlama, and Guitar. With a deep-rooted passion for Anatolian music that began at the age of five, he pursued formal studies in Turkish Folk Dance and Music at Istanbul Technical University’s Conservatory. Now based in Berlin, Deniz engages in a broad spectrum of musical projects, spanning genres from traditional and classical to jazz, modern, and electronic.

He has collaborated with an array of acclaimed artists and ensembles, including Babylon Orchestra, A.G.A. Trio, Cenk Erdoğan, Sarp Maden, Ah! Kosmos, Hakan Vreskala, İpek İpekçioglu, Elif, Aynur Doğan, Zigan Aldi, Derya Yıldırım, Ensemble Resonanz, Volkan İncüvez, Olcay Bayır, and Taner Akyol, among many others. His performances have taken him across Europe and Turkey, captivating audiences with his dynamic musical expressions.

In addition to live performances, Deniz composes film scores, arranges music, and teaches Duduk at the University of Hildesheim. His solo project, KafaNar, blends the rich traditions of Anatolian music with electronic beats, loops, and vocals, creating an entrancing, danceable sound that leaves a lasting impression on his audiences.

	Event	Date & Location

Page 1 of 0

AGA Trio

From Armenia, Georgia and Turkey respectively, Arsen Petrosyan, Mіkaіl Yakut and Deniz Mahir Kartal draw from their rich musical backgrounds to reinterpret the ancient melodies of these intertwined lands. Each instrument, the kaval, duduk and accordion, common in their respective countries, brings a distinct voice, which, when brought together, create an enchanting and harmonious union of their respective traditions.

Babylon Orchestra

Babylon Orchestra presents love songs, ballads, personal stories and newly written vocal pieces based on texts by authors who lived in the countries around the Mediterranean or have a relationship to it. Hence, the listener encounters a performance taking him through the history of the Mediterranean cultures. Two to three singers from Greece, Syria and Turkey and 7 to 16 musicians from various countries of the Middle East and Europe are performing together as a mixed ensemble with traditional and modern instruments. By using combinations of composed and improvised elements, acoustic and electric as well as electronic instruments, the ensemble creates a lively and dramatic, almost scenic performance showcasing the richness of this cultural heritage. Sephardic, Arabic, Turkish and Greek folk songs with new arrangements make the core of their repertoire.

Anima Shirvani

The Ensemble Anima Shirvani is an ensemble specializing in historical performance practice that creates a link between European Renaissance and Baroque music and traditional music from Persia, the Caucasus and Anatolia. The music, which is mostly based on improvisation according to certain rules handed down orally over the centuries, dates back to the Renaissance and the Middle Ages, when Europe experienced its cultural “resurrection”. And so the idea of a “Silk Road” was born, an ensemble that explores and combines music from both cultures. Consisting of internationally renowned artists, the ensemble is not only dedicated to the authentic interpretation of 16th and 17th century music at the highest level. Rather, it has set itself the task of building mutual understanding between Western and Eastern cultural societies through its projects and abolishing existing dogmas.

Turbo-Folk 2.0

Turbo-Folk 2.0 is a contemporary iteration of the traditional Balkan music genre, characterized by its fusion of folk melodies with modern electronic beats. The scene is marked by its flashy, over-the-top aesthetic, featuring elaborate costumes, heavy makeup, and a focus on physical appearance. Overall, Turbo-Folk 2.0 is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, blending traditional music and culture with modern electronic elements and a focus on physical appearance. While it has become a significant part of Balkan popular culture, it also raises important questions about objectification, exploitation, and the role of women in the music industry.

Ensemble Resonanz

With its extraordinary enthusiasm and artistic quality, Ensemble Resonanz is one of the world's leading chamber orchestras. The musicians' program ideas place old and new music in lively contexts and ensure resonance between the works, the audience and the stories that arise around the programs. The 21-piece string orchestra is democratically organized and works without a permanent conductor, but always brings artistic partners on board. Collaboration with composers and the development of a new repertoire are also a driving force behind the artistic work.

Hani Mojtahedy

Hani Mojtahedy is a renowned Kurdish singer who combines traditional Persian music and Kurdish lyrics with contemporary influences in her work. She was born in Sanandaj, Iran, and studied traditional Persian music before starting her professional singing career in 2000.She founded the first Iranian band made up entirely of women and campaigned for women's rights in music. Her music combines traditional Persian melodies with Kurdish lyrics and modern influences.