Meriç Artaç

Meriç Artaç is a cultural entrepreneur in the broadest sense of the word. She was born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1990. She started her musical education at the age of 5, when she entered the highly competitive Istanbul University State Conservatory. She obtained a degree from this school at age 18, alongside a French baccalauréat from the Lycée Saint-Michel.
Upon graduating she moved to Rotterdam to study composition under de guidance of Robin de Raaf, Klaas de Vries, Luc Breawaeys, Hans Koolmees, René Uijlenhoet and most notably Peter-Jan Wagemans. In 2015 she graduated cum laude with a Master’s degree in Composition.
During her studies in Rotterdam Meriç focussed on creating and composing music for theatre projects and opera. Her interest in multidisciplinary pieces has resulted in collaborations with dance, theatre and film. Her compositions, both acoustic as well as electronic, are musical representations of characters and stories she creates. She likes to use a wide variety of characters, landscapes, pictures and emotions, thus creating a unique narrative. Objects and situations that are normally overlooked are brought to life.
Meriç has composed works for Asko|Schönberg and AKOM Ensemble. Her works have been performed during various festivals at De Doelen, TivoliVredenburg and in the Fenixloods. Her artistic research “The Sound of a Character” has been published online.
As a top graduate, she was invited to have her opera Kayra performed at the Gaudeamus Muziek Week in Utrecht.
In 2016, Meriç Artaç received "de Rotterdamse School Compositieprijs" a prize from Doelen Ensemble. This prize is awarded once a year to a composition student of Codarts.
During the Red Sofa series on the 10th of October 2016, the DoelenEnsemble chose to play "The Writer Quadrophonic", an electronic piece that Meriç Artaç composed in 2013.
Currently, Meriç is working on a new piece for the Doelen Ensemble to be performed for 11th of March 2018 in DeLaMar Theater, Amsterdam as well as a new opera Madam Koo for De Diamantfabriek to be premiered in November 3rd, 2018 at CC Amstel.
In 2015, Meriç founded her own production company, Meriç Artaç Productions. Under this name she combines her talent for composition, her skilled piano work and her social engagement.
As of June 1st, 2016, Meriç Artaç is the Artistic Director of AKOM Ensemble, an ensemble for contemporary classical music based in Rotterdam.

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