Neva Özgen

Neva Özgen was born in Ankara in 1977 and grew up in Istanbul. She first had an interest in Western classical music and flute. She learned how to play both soprano and alto flutes but soon after entering the Istanbul Technical University Conservatory, she switched to clarinet. She then decided to study kemençe, an instrument integral to Turkish classical music.
While her father and musician Ihsan Özgen focused on playing experimental, cross-cultural, jazz pieces and taksims (improvisations), Neva pursued her interest in Turkish classical music. She honed her skills as an accompanist and ensemble player studying under Alaeddin Yavasca. Neva has deeply immersed herself in the works and taksims of Tanburi Cemil Bey and her recent influences include composer and performer Münir Nurettin Selçuk and Bekir Sidki Sezgin.

Neva Özgen has accompanied her father on performance tours of Turkish classical music in Europe, the United States and Turkey. Neva has performed with Orbestra in England and with jazz artist Butch Morris′ group in New York alongside ney player Süleyman Erguner. Recently, she performed with a violinist Hugh Marsh, percussionist Ben Grossman and vocalist Brenna MacCrimmon in the Mercan Dede Ensemble, which blends Eastern and Western musical traditions. She has also performed with Anatolia Ensemble, Montreal Tribal Trio, Atlas Ensemble, Nederland Blazers Ensemble, Nv/Elect.Voices, Istanbul Authentic Turkish Music Ensemble, Shujaat Hussain Khan, Peter Murphy, Mich Geber, Kudsi Erguner, Frangiz Ali-Zade, Javanshir Guliev, Theo Loevendi, and Karman Ince among others.

Neva made two recordings with the Anatolia Ensemble and is featured on the recording Women Composers and Performers of Turkish Classical Music. Her debut solo album “Legacy” was released in 2001 on the Golden Horn Records label.

Reference: goldenhorn.com, asia.si.edu