(b. Istanbul, Turkey, 1990)
Meriç Artaç is a cultural entrepreneur in the broadest sense of the word. She was born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1990. She started her musical education at the age of 5, when she entered the highly competitive Istanbul University State Conservatory. She obtained a degree from this school at age 18, alongside a French baccalauréat from the Lycée Saint-Michel.
Upon graduating she moved to Rotterdam to study composition under de guidance Peter-Jan Wagemans. In 2015 she graduated cum laude with a Master’s degree in Composition.
During her studies in Rotterdam Meriç focussed on creating and composing music for theatre projects and opera. Her interest in multidisciplinary pieces has resulted in collaborations with dance, theatre and film. Her compositions, both acoustic as well as electronic, are musical representations of characters and stories she creates. Objects and situations that are normally overlooked are brought to life. As a top graduate, she was invited to have her opera Kayra performed at the Gaudeamus Muziek Week in Utrecht.
In 2016, Meriç Artaç received “de Rotterdamse School Compositieprijs” a prize from Doelen Ensemble. This prize is awarded once a year to a composition student of Codarts. During the Red Sofa series on the 10th of October 2016, the DoelenEnsemble chose to play “The Writer Quadrophonic”, an electronic piece that Meriç Artaç composed in 2013.
In 2015, Meriç founded her own production company, Meriç Artaç Productions. Under this name she combines her talent for composition, her skilled piano work and her social engagement. In June 1st, 2016, Meriç Artaç became the Artistic Director of AKOM Ensemble, an ensemble for contemporary classical music based in Rotterdam until May, 2021.
On March 2018, a new piece was commissioned by Doelen Ensemble and Internationaal Danstheater. “Gaia” was premiered in DeLaMar Theater. In November 2018, she premiered her opera Madam Koo with Diamantfabriek and AKOM Ensemble in Amsterdam, which will be touring during 2019/2020.
In March 2019, her opera Kayra was invited by the University of Guanajuato Symphonic Orchestra (OSUG) premiere in Mexico during Callejón del Ruido festival. In August 2019, she premiered her opera VrouwenStemmen at the GrachtenFestival.
In September 2020, her arrangement of The Moon Bridge by Florence Price was performed in the opening night of the National Ballet & Dance in the opera FAUST (Working Title). In October 2020, her cello concerto FALAZ was premiered at the Cello Biennale Amsterdam by Pieter Wispelwey and Score Collective ensemble.
During the years 2019-2021, Artaç was the artist in residence at Festival Dag in de Branding. Meriç has contributed to eight editions of the festival and premiered her opera The Arrival of Mr.Z in November 2021 at Nieuwe Kerk, Den Haag.
As of September 2018, Artaç started teaching composition at Amsterdam Conservatory and became coordinator and the representative of the composition department of Rotterdam Conservatory.
Works:
NOW:
Further reading:
Interview with Thea Derks
Website Meriç Artaç