About
Aslıhan Sarikoski (née Keçebaşoğlu, b. 1994, Ankara) is a Turkish composer of classical-contemporary music. Her output encompasses both instrumental and vocal music. In her work she incorporates elements of Western classical music, contemporary music and traditional Turkish art music, without being bound to a particular genre, period or style. Sarikoski combines different musical materials in a hopeful attempt to create a coherent and distinctive whole.
Sarikoski received her Bachelor degree in composition in 2018 at the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts in Bilkent University, where she was granted a full scholarship. Life soon afterwards led her to Finland to study at the Sibelius Academy, where she graduated with a Master's degree in 2022. Since then, Sarikoski has settled in Finland as a freelancer. Alongside her formal composition teachers Onur Türkmen and Veli-Matti Puumala, she has extended her learning through several international masterclasses with composers such as Mark Andre, Zeynep Gedizlioğlu, Magnus Lindberg, Isabel Mundry, Oscar Bianchi and Kaija Saariaho.
Aslıhan Sarikoski's music has been performed at international festivals and in various concert series such as Paris ManiFeste, Essen NOW! Festival in Essen and Sesin Yolculuğu Composers’ Festival in Istanbul. Her works have been performed by Ensemble Klangforum Wien, the soloists of Ensemble Intercontemporain, Quatuor Diotimo, Hezarfen Ensemble, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Semplice Quartet, Ensemble Garage and Bilkent Symphony Orchestra. Her music has been performed by soloists such as pianist Yael Weiss and violinist Onder Baloğlu, and by conductors Vladimir Ponkin, Bas Wiegers and Hannu Norjanen. Sarikoski's compositions have been performed worldwide in cities in Europe, North America and the Middle East.