DUO EKEŠ
Duo Ekes, compromising of violinist Ezo Sarici and pianist Deniz Cengiz, has established itself as a distinctive voice in the contemporary chamber music scene. Their performances have taken them across Europe, including appearances at Duke's Hall in London, the Austrian Consulate in Istanbul, and Gregynog Hall in Wales, where they maintain an ongoing artistic relationship as regular performers and festival directors. They were named finalists at the 22nd Kiejstut Bacewiez International Chamber Music Competition in Poland in April 2025. Most recently, the duo were one of six finalists in the 11th Premio Internazionale Giangrandi-Eggmann Chamber Music Competition in Italy, distinguishing themselves as the youngest competitors as well as earning recognition internationally.
Duo Ekes's ethos reflects a commitment to genre-binding programming, which includes hidden gems of the 20th-century violin-piano repertoire whilst highlighting Turkish composers and paying homage to their Turkish/Kurdish roots. These works have featured prominently in concert tours across the UK, Germany and Turkey, where their performances have been met with critical acclaim for both programming and execution. Collectively, Sarici and Cengiz have performed extensively at major London venues such as Wigmore Hall, the Barbican, the Southbank Centre, and Milton Court.
In 2025, the duo co-founded the Pererinion Ysbrydol Festival Academy (PYFA) at the Gregynog Hall, a festival academy curated for up and coming young professional musicians. PYFA's main motive has been to offer affordable, high-level training in the disciplines of Solo and Chamber Music with world-class faculty. The inaugural festival attracted students from around the globe and presented a faculty including Roman Simovic, Milena Simovic, David Cohen, and Boris Kusnezow, establishing PYFA as a vibrant hub for education, performance, and mentorship.
The 2026 season marks several career milestones for Duo Ekes, including their Austrian debut, a fourth appearance at the Austrian Consulate in Istanbul, and multiple performances in the UK and Germany, alongside a recording project with Wigmore Hall's Composer in Residence, Huw Watkins, featuring his works for violin and piano alongside other cross-genre compositions.
Born in 2003, pianist Deniz Cengiz is establishing herself as one of the most versatile and compelling voices of her generation, with a career that bridges solo performance, chamber music, and visionary artistic leadership… read more