Meet Ezgi Karakus

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ezgi Karakus.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up in Izmir, Turkey, I would spend hours playing popular Turkish songs on a toy keyboard. Despite my parents not having musical backgrounds, they fully supported my interest, signing me up for lessons in piano and guitar when I was 9. But, very quickly, we found out those instruments were not for me.

Despite this setback, I was determined to find my instrument. My parents began taking me to musical performances, and after attending The Bremen String Quartet, my mind was set to be a Cellist. The Cellist that night captivated my attention with his unique style and energy. So I told my parents enthusiastically, “I want to play that!”

At 12, I was accepted to the Dokuz Eylul University State Conservatory in Izmir, Turkey. Over the next 10 years, most of my time was spent practicing, performing, and joining musical festivals highlighted by The Bremen Youth Symphony in Germany. During my last year of undergrad in Turkey, a professor from Marshall University in West Virginia attended my performance. Soon after, I was on my way to join his Cello studio at Marshall on full scholarship. I had never been to The United States and didn’t speak a drop of English. Despite my hesitations, I was encouraged by loved ones to take this big risk of leaving my life in Turkey behind.

During my 3 ½ years at Marshall, I learned English, obtained a Master’s Degree in Cello Performance, performed in numerous symphony orchestras, including the Ohio Valley Symphony and West Virginia Symphony. This time was highlighted by winning first prize in The Jackson Blashaw Music Competition. My musical horizons were also broadened, having the opportunity to play in music festivals and conferences as well as joining a gypsy rock band, “Qiet.”

In 2013, I moved to Kansas City to pursue my Doctoral degree in Cello Performance at UMKC. I taught at Ottawa University, Missouri Western State University, and Emporia State University as a cello professor and chamber music coach during my doctoral studies. In March 2018, I was chosen to play at Yo-Yo Ma’s Master Class at the Kauffman Center of the Performing Arts premiering Dok Zulfunu Meydana Gel, a Turkish folk song I arranged.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As a musician, every step is challenging, but it’s important to push your limits. Moving halfway across the world, on your own, and not speaking the language was not easy. On top of that, my Cello broke on the flight over! Upon arrival in the US, everything was new and different for me. The culture, lifestyle, food, and rules were all foreign. Not being able to effectively communicate with anyone made for obvious challenges. Giving up and moving back seemed like the best option in many instances.

My parents always told me I was stubborn, and they were mostly right. But that stubbornness paid off. I often cried my first year but refused to fail. My parents preached that being persistent and strong-willed would be enough to learn English and obtain my degree when these achievements felt unattainable. Often the simple, small wins are the most satisfying and memorable. At Marshall, my favorite lunch choice was the school’s salad bar. For months the cafeteria workers knew me as the girl who pointed at toppings.

The regulars knew me as the girl that took forever to order. One of my favorite and most rewarding memories was pronouncing “ranch” and completing an entire order in English. The workers and students applauded and cheered while everyone else in the cafeteria glazed over in confusion. That night I cried tears of joy and gained the confidence needed to achieve my goals in the United States.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Currently, I am the co-director of Soundwave Academy, an organization that I co-founded that focuses on ear training/Solfege and chamber music.

I’m also a member of the internationally recognized performance group Ensemble Iberica, a cellist on the string trio Rewound, and a Teaching Artist at UMKC’s Conservatory Academy and Harmony Project KC.

As a Turkish cellist, I collaborate nationally and internationally with artists from various genres, including classical, world, jazz, musicals, and theater productions. You can find some of my recordings on music platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Life is about believing in yourself and taking risks to achieve the goals and aspirations you have set. Some of the risks I’ve taken haven’t turned out like I planned or hoped.

However, overcoming obstacles to reach your goals is the most rewarding experience in life. Succeeding and failing throughout life and my musical career has taught me to be competitive with myself and always push forward. Without taking risks and experiencing failure, I wouldn’t have learned this valuable lesson.

Once you achieve a goal by taking a risk, you gain the confidence that you will find a way to make it happen if you believe you can do something in yourself.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.ezgikarakus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cellist_zg/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ezgi.karakus.353
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/cellist_zg
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/album/dok-zulfunu-meydana-gel-arr-for-solo-cello-single/1459047221