Schedule

Saturday, September 28, 2024
7:30 p.m. Concert

Asia Society Texas, American Turkish Association-Houston, and Hoppa Project present Sounds of Anatolia, from the fifth annual Turkish Music Festival, a multi-day musical event dedicated to sharing a wide range of Eastern European music styles to audiences in Houston. In this vibrant evening, Kinetic Ensemble, composer Erberk Eryılmaz, virtuoso clarinetist Ismail Lumanovski, and vocalist Dilan Selek İlhan explore the diverse sound colors within Anatolian music.

The music of Eryılmaz, which dramatically captures the spirit and energy of traditional Anatolian music, will be prominently featured throughout the night, with his Bolulu Ama Rasim (Blind Rasim of Bolu) making a dynamic start to the evening. The program also includes traditional folk dances for davul and clarinet performed by Lumanovski, and arrangements of beloved twentieth-century Turkish tangos for piano, strings, and voice, re-composed by Berfin Deniz Çarıkcıoğlu.

The second half opens with a U.S. premiere of the third movement of String Quartet No. 1 by Ekrem Zeki Ün. Composed in 1934, Ün's string quartet blends the microtonal, makam-inspired structures of Anatolian traditional Turkish music with Western musical forms and instrumentation, a style prevalent during the early to mid-20th century. The program concludes with Eryılmaz' Sınırsız (Limitless) for Turkish wind, strings, and piano: a piece that highlights the virtuosity and versatility of Lumanovski. 

About the Artists

Kinetic Ensemble is a 16-member, conductorless string ensemble formed in 2015 hailed for its “remarkably varied and rich strata of string colour” (Choir & Organ), its “visually arresting…brilliantly executed” performances, and its “thoughtful, incisive programming” (Arts+Culture Texas). Dubbed “Houston’s Indie, Conductorless Orchestra” (Houston Public Media) and “Best Chamber Orchestra of 2023” (Houston Press), the artist-led, artist-curated Kinetic Ensemble has gained increasing recognition as an innovative and dynamic force in Houston’s music scene, and an important advocate for the diversification of classical music repertoire. With a commitment to amplifying diverse, under-performed, and newly composed classical music, Kinetic has premiered over twenty new works by emerging and established composers of our time, including Karim Al-Zand, Patrick Harlin, Daniel Knaggs, Paul Novak, Nicky Sohn, Daniel Temkin, and more. Kinetic’s self-titled album, featuring four premiere recordings, was released in 2023 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Traditional Classical charts.

Erberk Eryılmaz is a Turkish-American composer and performer recognized for bringing the energy of the folk music of his homeland to the concert stage with a creative and dramatic approach. His recent album of chamber works, Dances of the Yogurt Maker won a GRAMMY Award with producer Judith Sherman and received two gold medals at Global Music Awards in 2022. His compositions have been performed at some of the world’s most important concert venues such as Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, the National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana, Cuba, and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. As a composer, pianist, conductor, and folk percussionist, he has collaborated with many important ensembles including the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey, Houston Symphony, European Union Chamber Orchestra, Apollo Chamber Players, as well as the Bowen McCauley Dance Company.

Ismail Lumanovski is an extraordinary Macedonian clarinetist and musical force of passion and dynamic virtuosity. Already of international distinction, Lumanovski has launched a major career as a soloist, chamber musician in both classical and cross-over repertoire. His synergistic blend of natural talent and training combines the spirit of folk music with the discipline of classical music. He is proud to have participated in the New York debut of the Carter Clarinet Concerto with musicians from New Juilliard Ensemble and the Lucerne Festival Academy with Maestro Pierre Boulez. The New York Times wrote of his work under Boulez: “the soloist — the brilliant, fearless young clarinetist Ismail Lumanovski — aligned himself with various instrumental contingents of the large ensemble”. Lumanovski’s playing may be heard on his recordings with the New York Gypsy All-Stars, Secret Trio, Fall of the Moon, Liquid Clarinets and Love is the Way.

Dilan Selek Ilhan is an accomplished trombone player with a rich and diverse musical background. She has been an integral part of the music scene in Istanbul, Turkey, performing with prestigious orchestras such as the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Orchestra, where she served as the principal trombone player for over a decade. Dilan is also the founder and a member of several musical ensembles including the Istanbul Brass Trio and Brassolist. In addition to her orchestral work, Dilan has been an active participant in the Houston music community since moving there in 2018. She currently serves as the orchestra manager of Houston Repertoire Ballet while also continuing her passion for chamber music and solo performances. Furthermore, she has a deep appreciation for Turkish ethnic pop music and has founded the Nova band Texas, which specializes in arrangements of Turkish songs. Dilan's dedication to music and her versatile musical talents have made her a respected figure in both the classical and ethnic music scenes

About Hoppa Project

Hoppa Project aims to promote music from Eastern Europe and the Middle East by performing the music of the region with a wide range of styles from folk to newly commissioned contemporary music. Hoppa is an exclamation that is commonly used in the region to say “Come on!, Let’s go!” This is the attitude they feel is needed to share what they love. Their goal is to expose people to a culture that audiences might not know well and also bring foreigners abroad back home with music. Hoppa Project brings western and eastern trained musicians together in order to discover cultural connections. Some of Hoppa Project’s events include a multi-day annual Turkish Music Festival in Houston; a concert series of Turkish and Australian music to remember the 100-year anniversary of the events at Gelibolu (Gallipoli) during World War I; and the Segâh Festival of Persian and Turkish Music, a multi-day festival held in Pittsburgh, PA to highlight the cultural relationship between these two regions. Hoppa Project premiered and recorded Reza Vali's Sornâ (Folk Songs, Set No. 17) which is included in the album "The Ancient Call" released by Albany Records in 2016. Hoppa Project has collaborated with varied artists such as clarinetist Ismail Lumanovski, Beth Bahia Cohen, Carpe Diem String Quartet, Del Sol String Quartet, Apollo Chamber Players, singer Ayşe Göknur Şanal, and composers Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol, Özkan Manav Önder Özkoç, Yiğit Kolat, Kamran İnce, and Timuçin Çevikoğlu.

Performing Arts and Culture programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Syamal and Susmita Poddar. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, The Brown Foundation, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment Inc. Generous funding also provided by The Anchorage Foundation of Texas, The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, and the Wortham Foundation. Additional support is provided by The Clayton Fund, and the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing exceptional programming to Asia Society Texas.

Performing Arts and Culture Presenting Sponsors

Syamal and Susmita Poddar

Performing Arts and Culture Program Sponsors

Program Partner

Piano Sponsor

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.