European American Music Distributors Company is a member of the Schott Music Group

Fazıl Say is Artist-in-Residence at the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival

Jun. 30, 2025

One of Turkey’s greatest modern contemporary artists, Fazil Say, is currently in residence at the 2025 Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. From July 5 to August 31, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (SHMF) will focus on the music metropolis of Istanbul and the pianist-composer Fazıl Say. The program also includes a special anniversary: Germany's largest classical music festival is celebrating its 40th edition! 

Although he is most notable as both a pianist and composer from Ankara, Turkey, Fazil Say’s influences and interests in music’s aesthetics and cultural significance extend beyond classical music. While many aspects of his music are derived from his home country and the city of Istanbul, he has drawn from different musical traditions. Whether Jazz, modern pop, or orchestra, Say’s love of music is not merely displayed in the variety of music he practices and researches but in his core belief that music is a unifying power that brings people together. This has led Say to collaborate with musicians around the world hailing from a variety of different backgrounds and musical traditions.

As a pianist, Say will perform in a multitude of performances during his residency. In addition to his orchestral performances with the Philharmonic Orchestra in September, he will appear in many more intimate collaborations throughout the month of August. These include performances with singer Serenad Bagcan, flautist Aslihan And, cellist Nicolas Altstaedt, and trumpeter Gabor Boldoczki. In addition, Say’s Mandolin Concerto will be premiered by mandolinist Avi Avital with the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchester under the baton of Nil Venditti.


SHMF Artist Portrait: Fazıl Say

To learn more about Fazil Say, visit schott-music.com.

Fazil Say
Mandolin Concerto (2025)
2.2.2.2-2.2.0.0-timp-perc-str
33'

News