‘Ceren Necipoğlu Istanbul International Harp Festival’ is organized to honor the memory of Ceren Necipoğlu, who dedicated her life to the art of the harp, to inspire young musicians to discover new horizons, and to to stimulate the development of harp artistry in Turkey.
The inaugural festival was held in 2020, followed by the second in 2025. In addition to being Turkey’s first and only international harp festival, it holds a unique global distinction: it is the world’s first festival to open its chamber music category to all instruments. This pioneering approach not only underscores the event’s international importance but also enhances the rich diversity offered to all participating musicians.
A leading supporter of art and education in Turkey, Borusan Sanat, further elevated the 2nd Ceren Necipoğlu Istanbul International Harp Festival. They provided a truly special award to the young winners of the two solo harp and chamber music categories: the exceptional opportunity to perform in their prestigious venue, marking a significant milestone in their careers.
We would be delighted to welcome you to this special evening featuring the young musicians who have been awarded the Borusan Sanat Special Prize.
Date: 18.December 2025
Time: 20:00
Place: Borusan Music House
Istiklal Cad. No: 160/A Istanbul
Organizing Committee
Gözde Ece Yavaş Öztürk Lecturer, Harp Department, Dokuz Eylül University
A.İmre Tüylü Chair and Press Relations
“RISING STARS” CONCERT - PROGRAM
Zarina Zaradna – Winner of the Young Hope Category of 2nd Ceren Necipoğlu İstanbul International Harp Festival
- Louis Spohr – Fantasie in C Minor
2. Nino Rota – Sarabanda e Toccata
3. Fryderyk Chopin – Nocturne No. 20 in C-sharp Minor
4. Felix Godefroid – Etude de Concert
Teodora Cotuna Rizea– Winner of the Young Artist Category of 2nd Ceren Necipoğlu İstanbul International Harp Festival
- Paul Hindemith – Sonata
- Claude Debussy – Images oubliées, II. Sarabande
- Louis Spohr – Fantasie
- Şirin Pancaroğlu – The Cry of the Flamingos
DUDZIAK & WÓJCIK DUO– Winner of the Chamber Music Category of 2nd Ceren Necipoğlu İstanbul International Harp Festival
Gabriela Dudziak & Mateusz Wójcik
- Johann Sebatian Bach – Sonata No. 6 BWV 1020
I Allegro
III Allegro
- Maurice Ravel – Ma Mere l’Oye (arr. Dudziak&Wójcik Duo)
II Petit poucet
III Laideronnette, impératrice des pagodes
- Marek Pasieczny – Susurrus V for Harp & Guitar (World premiere)
I Cantus Planus
II Incantatio et Psalmus
III Canticulum
- Manuel de Falla – Danza Espanola from La vida breve (arr. Freibott & Madariaga)
BIOGRAPHIES
Zarina Zaradna
Zarina Zaradna is a 14-year-old (16.05.2011) talented harpist who delights the audience with her talent and passion for music.
Despite her young age, Zarina has already achieved numerous successes, including performances at prestigious concerts and music competitions. Her harp playing is characterized by extraordinary sensitivity and maturity, and her interpretations of pieces delight both the audience and critics.
A laureate of numerous international music competitions, winner of several prestigious Grand Prix.
She performs both in solo recitals and as a soloist accompanied by orchestras.
She released her first CD “Prima Zarina Zaradna Harp”.
Zarina’s many achievements include:
– 1st place at the International Two-Stage Harp Competition in Istanbul, Turkey (January 2025)
– 1st place at the Virtuosos V4+ International Competition in Budapest, Hungary, where Zarina represented Poland. Here, Zarina performed in front of world-famous jurors: opera singer Maestro Placido Domingo and cellist Hauser.
– 1st place at the International Three-Stage Harp Competition “Lira Helvetia” in Zurich, Switzerland (September 2022).
– Zarina performed on the program “Mam Talent” in 2024 and was among the semi-finalists and Must Be The Music in March 2025.
Her example shows that hard work and determination can bring success at any age.
More information on YouTube channel, Facebook – Zarina Zaradna or website: zarinazaradna.com
Teodora Cotuna Rizea
Teodora Cotuna Rizea was born in Spain in 2004. She started playing the harp at the age of 6 and was a student of Ana Martínez Cano at the Professional Conservatory of Music in Valencia, where she received Professional Prizes in Harp and Chamber Music upon completing her studies, as well as the Ricardo Callejo Scholarship Award. From 2020 to 2022 she continued her education with harpists Gabriella Dall’Olio and Tiziana Tagliani.
She is a prize-winner of several national and international competitions, such as the International Harp Contest “Suoni d’Arpa” (Italy), International Music Competition “Petar Konjovic” (Serbia), “ArpaPlus” Competition (Spain), and International Competition for Young Performers “Ciutat de Llíria” (Spain). Teodora has received masterclasses from renowned teachers including Anneleen Lenaerts, Cristina Montes, Park Stickney or Sylvain Blassel, participating in festivals such as MusicAlp (France) or the Académie Musicale de Gargilesse Pierre Jamet’. Between 2016 and 2020 she was a member of Madrid Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Proyecto Talentos’, performing regularly at the National Auditorium of Spain in various chamber and orchestral formations.
Teodora is currently studying her Master’s degree with Letizia Belmondo at the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne. She has also been principal harpist of the Youth Orquestra of Valencia (JOGV) since 2019 and enjoys taking part in many orchestral projects in Spain and Switzerland. Most recently, Teodora won the 1st Prize at the Ceren Necipoglu Istanbul International Harp Festival in Turkey. This prize includes recitals at the Guildhall Summer Harp Festival and at the Sioned Williams Harp Studio in London, as well as at the Borusan Music House in Istanbul.
DUDZIAK & WÓJCIK DUO
Gabriela Dudziak & Mateusz Wójcik
Gabriela Dudziak and Mateusz Wójcik are two polish musicians who have been a duo since 2023. Currently, they are studying at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Cracow. Two young virtuosos of their instruments make the harp and guitar combination a unity, while showing the possibilities of each instrument.
Despite their short collaboration, Gabriela and Mateusz have already achieved a lot, they perform in Poland and abroad and have won numerous awards in the competitons. Their most recent achievements include 2nd place at the International Competition of Duets with Harp in Cieszyn, 1st place at the 13th International Harp Contest in Italy 2024 “Suoni d’Arpa” and 1st place at the 2nd Ceren Necipoglu Istanbul International Harp Festival. Their musical goal is to spread music for the harp and guitar – from performing pieces originally written for these instruments to creating their own arrangements and transcriptions.
