21.00 | Selen Beytekin feat. Hermon Mehari & Tony Tixier: SELEN BEYTEKİN vocal | HERMON MEHARI trumpet | TONY TIXIER piano | CANER ÜSTÜNDAĞ bass | BERKE KÖYMEN drums | YAĞMUR BAKAR vocal | ELİF DEMİRBAĞ vocal | ZEKİ BOZKURT vocal

A compelling presence shaping Istanbul’s vibrant jazz scene with her powerful voice.

A musical bridge between East and West, a dialogue enriched by local timbres. Selen Beytekin is among those who infuse Istanbul’s vibrant and original jazz scene with dynamism through her distinctive voice, powerful vocals, and stage energy. This year, she joins the festival programme with a special project featuring award-winning France-based trumpeter Hermon Mehari and pianist Tony Tixier.

Beytekin began her musical journey at the age of eight, studying classical piano with Ergican Saydam. After undergoing Saydam’s rigorous training, she continued singing in choirs. Alongside music, she pursued many of her other passions—dancing, acting, and engaging with science. Resisting the idea of narrowing her world to a single discipline, she turned down an offer from the conservatory in order to follow all her passions at once. She later studied Civil Engineering at Istanbul Technical University, where she founded the Jazz Capella choir.

Her path crossed with İlham Gencer, marking her professional debut in jazz clubs as both pianist and vocalist. Combining voice, talent, and passion, Beytekin’s rise was swift. She became a sought-after name at jazz clubs and festivals, word of her performances quickly spread across the jazz scene. She has shared the stage with distinguished musicians including Aşkın Arsunan, İlham Gencer, Volkan Öktem, Kent Mete, Kerem Görsev, Tony Jones, Ricci Benson, Neşet Ruacan, Atilla Şereftuğ, and Spyro Gyra. She hosted her own music programme on NTV and presented radio shows on Joy FM, NTV Radio, and Karnaval.

With a wide-ranging repertoire spanning jazz, R&B, funk, and soul, Selen Beytekin will bring her powerful interpretation to the festival stage alongside her orchestra. She will be joined on stage by award-winning jazz trumpeter Hermon Mehari, whose music has taken him around the world, and by Tony Tixier, one of the standout pianists and composers of the contemporary European jazz scene.

PLEASE NOTE

• Doors open: 19.30
• Suitable for ages 7 and over.
• Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
• Unreserved seating.
• Food and beverages are available.
• No cloakroom available.
• Paid on-site parking is available.

ACCESSIBILITY

• Access via the M2 Taksim-Yenikapı metro line and the F1 Taksim–Kabataş funicular line (Taksim, Gezi Park exit, approx. 1 km).
• The TRT İstanbul Radyosu, Elmadağ bus stop is 300 m away.
• Parking and the drop-off/pick-up point are 50 m from the main entrance.
• Accessible parking spaces are available.
• The main entrance is step-free.
• The route to the concert area is sloped. Assistance may be required.
• The concert area is level and suitable for wheelchair users.
• Accessible toilet available.
• Guide dogs are welcome.
• Audience members with disabilities are entitled to a 50% discount. To benefit from the discount, please email bilet@iksv.org with the events you wish to attend, the email registered to your Passo account, and a copy of your disability ID. The ticketing team will create a reservation in Passo, and discounted tickets can be purchased via the “My Reservations” section. Discounted tickets are subject to availability.