Artists

Meet the artists

Meet the artists bringing Umay’s Children to life through music, storytelling, and cultural heritage. Each performer shares a unique connection to the traditions, sounds, and spirit of Turkic communities.

An overhead photographic composition of a conductor’s black leather-bound score book opened to a complex piece titled “Umay’s Children,” its cream pages filled with precise, flowing notation. Around it, a subtle collage of cultural elements from across Eurasia: a hand-painted ceramic bowl with turquoise patterns, a woven silk scarf in deep burgundy and gold, and a small bronze steppe-inspired amulet. They rest on a matte dark stone tabletop. Diffused, cool studio lighting from above creates soft, shadowless clarity, highlighting textures without glare. The mood is intellectual and contemplative, suggesting thoughtful preparation for a sophisticated, cross-continental musical journey.

A grand concert hall stage draped in deep midnight-blue velvet curtains, with a collection of traditional Eurasian instruments—ornate wooden dutar, lacquered guzheng, inlaid saz, and a polished concert grand piano—arranged in a graceful semi-circle on gleaming dark oak flooring. Soft, warm spotlighting from above creates gentle pools of light on each instrument, leaving the audience area in tasteful shadow. Hints of gold detailing on the balcony railings shimmer subtly. Captured in photographic realism from a centered, slightly elevated angle, the image emphasizes symmetry and depth, conveying a sophisticated, anticipatory mood that evokes the beginning of a refined cross-cultural music journey.

A close-up, photographic view of a meticulously crafted Eurasian string instrument, its warm amber wood body adorned with fine mother-of-pearl inlay forming abstract steppe and mountain motifs. The instrument rests on a charcoal-gray velvet cloth atop a dark wooden table, with blurred sheet music and a crystal water glass in the background. A single soft spotlight from the upper left creates delicate highlights along the polished strings and tuning pegs, casting faint, elegant shadows. Shot with a shallow depth of field and rule-of-thirds composition, the mood feels intimate, refined, and reverent, ideal for capturing the soul of a sophisticated concert experience.

Sonay Ruhi

Music has been the place where Sonay has felt happiest and most at home since childhood. The pure excitement she felt while singing as a young child gradually became the center of her life.

Her professional music journey began 21 years ago in Tabriz, where she received musical training while also gaining stage experience as a choir member in orchestras. To further develop her artistry, she studied voice for one year in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

Her path then led her to Türkiye, where she served for six years as a vocalist and choir member at the Anadolu University Folk Studies Research Center. During this time, she proudly performed Azerbaijani songs.

For her, music is not only an art form; it is also a mission to introduce the richness of Azerbaijani culture and the deep-rooted heritage of her people to the world. Her greatest goal is to continue sharing the sounds and melodies of the culture she belongs to with different nations, while finding joy in the art that nourishes her soul.

İrfan Kula

İrfan Kula is an amateur musician, dancer, and folklore researcher focused on documenting regional Turkish traditions. Originally from Fethiye, his work began at METU with the Turkish Folklore Society. Under the guidance of Ali Fuat Aydın and Ilhan Kurt, İrfan conducted fieldwork on the rare three-stringed bağlama repertoire of Fethiye, collaborating with tradition bearers like Ramazan Güngör and Hasan Bülbül to bring these local sounds to public attention.

Now based in the Pacific Northwest, İrfan performs bağlama with the Anadolu Turkish Musicians and Curcuna. He is also a member of the Anadolu Turkish Folk Dancers and performs with the group Black Sea Dances with Izumi, continuing to foster cross-cultural joy through music and movement.

Elçin Gürbüz

Elçin has been surrounded by music since childhood, exploring a variety of instruments before developing a deep connection with the darbuka. As a percussionist, she performs with local music groups and enjoys bringing traditional rhythms to life through her playing.

Her passion for music is rooted in community, culture, and collaboration. She loves discovering new sounds, jamming with musicians from different backgrounds, and exploring how rhythm connects people across traditions.

Evren’s Art & Music Collective

Evren’s Art & Music Collective is an ensemble dedicated to the performance and preservation of Istanbul classical modal music and traditional arts. For this program, the ensemble will present a composition by Gazi Giray Han II, reflecting the musical exchange between Bakhchysarai, Crimea and Ottoman Istanbul in 16th century, where strong cultural and artistic connections shaped a shared stylistic tradition.

Enes Evren

Enes Evren is a master of classical percussion (usul) and the ney (reed flute), with over two decades of training and performance under distinguished masters. He specializes in complex forms of the classical repertoire, including Mevlevi Ayin. He has performed internationally with specialized ensembles, appeared on Turkish National Television (TRT), and contributed to documentaries, albume recordings, and scholarly publications. He also served as co-art-director of the internationally recognized Konya Mystic Music Festival. He holds a Master’s degree in Art History.

Fatih Evren

Fatih Evren studied tanbur and kudum under master musicians, focusing on the performance practices of Istanbul classical modal music. He has also studied classical and folk traditions from Istanbul, Anatolia, and Mesopotamia. He has studied music history in conservatory. He has performed with international ensembles and appeared in music documentaries.

Anadolu Turkish Folk Dancers (ATFD)

The Anadolu Turkish Folk Dancers (ATFD) have been active for over 40 years, performing year round at an array of festivals across the Pacific Northwest!

Every Sunday, dancers get together to study the movements, rhythms, costumes, and rituals from a broad range of Turkish, Turkic, Balkan, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean subcultures. It is their hope that by dancing and performing together, they can publicly celebrate these regional histories and diasporas, while also raising the next generation of culture bearers and intercultural artists! Follow them at @anadolu.turkish.folk.dancers to stay posted on their adventures.

Ali stambayev

Ali is a Kazakh musician who relies on traditional music as a solace and a way to stay connected with his homeland. Ali’s performances highlight the vast history and numerous styles of Kazakh livelihood, and he finds joy in sharing them with wider audiences.

Ruslan Girfanov

Ruslan Girfanov is a Tatar–Bashkir dancer and choreographer with over 30 years of experience in dance. Born in Ufa, in the Republic of Bashkortostan, he was raised within both Tatar and Bashkir cultural traditions, which continue to influence his artistic work.

He creates original choreographies inspired by the vibrant spirit of Tatar folk dance, occasionally incorporating elements of Bashkir dance traditions. His performances reflect a multicultural identity through movement, color, and rhythm. In addition to folk dance, Ruslan has experience in various world dance styles, including classical ballroom, which adds depth and versatility to his performances.

Yulia Shipulina

Yulia Shipulina is a dancer from Portland, Oregon, originally from Russia. With a foundation in traditional dance training, she blends international folk dances with modern styles. She has performed at festivals in Portland and Seattle, including Sabantuy, International Kids Festiva, Newroz, Yalda Night, and various Indian and Afghan cultural events. She hopes to create an international folk dance group for children, teaching dance through culture and tradition.

Shaun Burley

Escaping the confines of classical performance is a real challenge for an orchestral musician, but after discovering the rich tapestry of Balkan and Turkish folk music through friends and traveling, Shaun has embraced the unique rhythms and ornamentation of these musical traditions with open arms, and stubborn fingers. What began as a traveler’s curiosity deepened into a genuine passion—for the asymmetric meters of Balkan dances, the ornate melodic vocabulary of Turkish art music, and the living cultural histories woven into both.

Today, Shaun explores that spirit of discovery with Anadolu Turkish Musicians, as well as with his Balkan brass band, Sindikat Sina Roza. He is thrilled and humbled to be performing alongside so many talented and passionate musicians in this community!

Kerem Onat

Kerem is a Seattle-based musician, cultural event organizer, and creative director of Umay’s Children. He enjoys playing the oud and piano and is dedicated to studying and preserving global ethnic music, with a particular focus on traditions from underrepresented communities. As an amateur multi-instrumentalist, he explores the unique textures of regional folk instruments, aiming to create cross-cultural musical narratives.

He seeks to share lesser-known cultural traditions with audiences in the Pacific Northwest and to help foster a sense of community through the universal language of music.