Emine Bostancı

The sound of the divine  

The first time Istanbul-born and raised musician, composer and academic Emine Bostancı heard the sound of the kemenche was as if she had been transported back to existence before her worldly birth. Completely enchanted by the familiar sounds of the ancient Turkish instrument, the then sixteen-year-old Emine became convinced that nothing else could come as close to the sound of the divine as that of the kemenche. As she was the first professional musician in her family, there was anything but a set path for Bostancı to follow. Yet, there was nothing that could dislodge Emine from her deep connection to the kemenche. With teachers such as Derya Türkan, Mahinur Özüstün and Aslıhan Özel, Bostancı managed to develop her unique playing style and make the instrument her own.  

Beating heart of Dareyn Quartet

Emine has mastered the old Ottoman court music to perfection, but is also very much at home in Turkish folk music. In 2016 she graduated from YTU in Istanbul. Emine continued her studies with a master's degree at Codarts in Rotterdam and a PhD at the University of Amsterdam to broaden her horizons with the science, tradition and history behind her instrument and the music she plays. Bostancı initiated various musical projects, including the Dareyn Quartet. Together with cellist Maya Fridman, Emine forms the beating heart of the quartet and invite various musicians for each new project. Driven by the power of change, the constantly varying musicians of the Dareyn Quartet intertwine the beauty of modality, dynamic playing techniques and the rich world of rhythm into melancholic musical dialogues. 

Discover more? 

Go behind the scenes with Emine Bostancı in the Music Meeting Exposed.