Please join us for the first in this year’s pro series roster of concerts, welcoming composer and jazz pianist, David Braid & Serkan Alagök, Turkish jazz drummer with special guests — Greg Gatien, saxophone; Dylan Pilcher, trumpet; Marika Galea, double bass.

Hailed in the Canadian press as “one of his country’s true renaissance men when it comes to music” (The Ottawa Citizen), composer and jazz pianist, David Braid is a ten-time nominee, and four-time winner of Canada’s highest music prize (Juno Award). His first classical composition was nominated for Classical Album of the year, and his first film score won two Screen Awards for Best Original Score, and Best Original Song. He is also a recipient of the Ontario Foundation for the Arts’ prestigious prize: ’Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award for Keyboard Artistry’. David Braid is a Steinway Artist, Composer-in-Residence for Sinfonia UK Collective, and Adjunct Professor at the Danish National Academy of Music. Concertizing throughout the UK, Scandinavia, Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Japan, Australia and Canada his original music is described as: “brilliant” (Montreal Gazette), “enchanting” (The Age, Australia), “une force poétique” (Le Soleil) and “hauntingly beautiful.” (The Globe & Mail) His arrangements and compositions were an integral part of the Chet Baker-inspired film, “Born to Be Blue” and his jazz score received praise for its “contemporary patina without sacrificing period authenticity” (The Times, UK).

“Braid’s tone, touch, chord voicings and imagination make him one of the most interesting new pianists I’ve encountered in a long time.” – Doug Ramsey, recipient of Jazz Journalists Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award (USA)

https://www.davidbraid.com/index.php

Serkan Alagök, born in Ankara, Türkiye; completed his music education at Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory, Wind Instruments – Bassoon Department (Middle, High School and Undergraduate Degrees) and completed his master’s education at the same school. He attended the trainings of world-famous bassoon artists such as Dag Jensen and Gustavo Nunez Patrick Deritis. He continues his PhD in the field of bassoon at Anadolu University State Conservatory.

Having started playing drums professionally in 2005, Alagök has had the opportunity to accompany many artists at various concerts and festivals in Türkiye and around the world, to take part in album recordings and to play in television programs. Bulgaria Bansko Jazz Festival, America Washington Turkish Jazz Week, Baku Summer Jazz Days, Uzbekistan Tashkent Jazz Festival are some of his concerts abroad. Some of the artists and groups he accompanied: Sibel Köse, Önder Focan, Ayşe Gencer, Evrim Özşuca, Koray Ergünay, Gökhan Somel, Abdurrahman Tarikçi, Tamer Temel, Ahmet Elmas, Meriç Demirkol, Uraz Kıvaner, Ozan Musluoğlu, Şenova Ülker, Bulut Gülen, TRT Jazz Orchestra, Anıl Bilgen, İmer Demirer, Yıldız İbrahimova, Cansu Tanrıkulu, Kaan Bıyıkoğlu, Janusz Szprot, Murat Ulus, Rustam Rahmedov, Meltem Ege, Ray Blue, Alan Harris, Deborah Davis.

In addition to these, he took part in Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, Antalya State Symphony Orchestra, Bursa Regional State Symphony Orchestra, Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Symphony Orchestra and Hacettepe Symphony Orchestra, Hacettepe Bassoon Quartet, Quarter Bassoon Ensemble as a bassoon player. He has been working as a lecturer at Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory Jazz Department since 2014.

Tickets available at the door.

Adults & Seniors: $20

School of Music students and Conservatory of Music students attend at no charge.