Donemus Webwinkel — Kaleli, Emre Sihan

Emre Sihan Kaleli (born in Ankara, 1987) is a Turkish composer currently living in Vienna.
Education: Kaleli has a diverse educational background and professional experience acquired in four countries: Turkey, Uzbekistan, the Netherlands, and Austria.
Following his graduation from the Lyceum of the State Conservatory of Antalya in piano in 2006, he moved to Tashkent for composition studies. In 2010 he obtained his Bachelor's degree in composition from the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan with Honors. In 2012 he completed his Master’s degree at the Conservatory of Amsterdam where he studied under Richard Ayres, Willem Jeths, and Wim Henderickx. Extracurricular mentorship from Joël Bons and Peter Adriaansz was also a great influence on him. From 2012 to 2014, he worked as the Assistant Artistic Director of the Nieuw Ensemble (Amsterdam).
In autumn of 2014, he moved to Vienna. From 2015 to 2016, he took a post-graduate course in composition at the Fine Arts University of Graz under Beat Furrer.
During and after his studies, Kaleli developed close artistic connections with certain soloists and collectives: Matthias Arter (oboe, Switzerland), the Omnibus Ensemble (Uzbekistan), the Convergence Ensemble (Georgia), New Ensemble (the Netherlands), and the Ensemble Modelo62 (the Netherlands). These collaborations played a significant role in his artistic development.
Compositions: Since his first commission received at the age of eighteen, Kaleli has mainly composed on commission, which is why the majority of his works are written for a specific project and/or ensemble. Though most of his compositions are written for larger chamber groups, in recent years he has also written music for orchestras and worked in the field of music theatre.
Perhaps a natural consequence of having lived in countries that are culturally significantly diverse, Kaleli’s work does not focus on one singular aesthetic direction or style. On the contrary: most of his compositions strongly differ from one another, displaying a plurality of aesthetic directions and accompanying technical tools. It can however be observed that his music strongly tends to be expressive – it is impulsive with frequent and abrupt changes, and rich in the emotions and emotional states it reflects.
Awards: Kaleli has been awarded with a number of prizes and honors:
2018 - ‘Startstipendium’ for Music and Performing Arts of the Austrian Federal Chancellery, Austria
2017 – Selected composer at the Call for Scores of the Ensemble Reconsil Vienna, Austria
2016 – Honorable Mention at the 3rd International Mauricio Kagel Competition, Austria
2015 – Gargonza Arts Award, a three months artist residency award in Italy, curated by Heinz Holliger, Germany
2015 – MIAM Composition Award, Turkey
2015 – Funding for a two-years artistic project with the Ensemble Modelo62 from the Dutch Performing Arts Funds, the Netherlands
2013 – Honorable Mention at the competition Gaudeamus Award, the Netherlands
2009 – 1st Prize at the 5th Pre-Art Competition for Young Composers, Switzerland