About

Ayşegül Yörükoğlu is a Turkish classical pianist and multidisciplinary artist based in the Netherlands. In her creative work she combines piano, electronics and cross-disciplinary collaborations with a focus on blurring the lines between performer and observer. Her compositions explore musical storytelling through sound and imagery.

In line with her artistic explorations, Ayşegül co-founded NEFES in 2024 with Lieneke Grollé. Together, they create performances that integrate breathwork techniques with improvised sound journeys. Supported by Utrecht Municipality, the duo has performed at festivals across Netherlands and Europe. That same year, she also launched two electronic music projects: ŞUUR, with Fer, which explores electro-acoustic soundscapes; and Algorhytmica, with Elif Sezgin, an experimental duo using live coding as its core medium.

Ayşegül’s musical journey began at the age of seven with Beyhan Bakırcı and continued at the Antalya State Conservatory with Samir Mirzoev. She was invited by Victor Merzhanov to study at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where she completed her Bachelor's degree under Sergey Koudriakov in 2017. She later earned her Master’s degree in piano performance at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2021, studying with Naum Grubert. During her studies, she was supported by the Jacques Vonk Fonds, Prins Bernard Cultuurfonds and the Concertgebouw Foundation.

She has performed internationally with various orchestras and earned numerous competition prizes. Highlights include special prize at the 8th International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz in Ukraine, 2nd prizes at the 19th International Music Competition for Young Musicians in Latvia, 1st Malta International Piano Competition, 10th International Pera Piano Competition in Turkey. She also won 1st prize at the 3rd International Slobozhanska Fantasia Piano Competition in Ukraine.

In 2022, her violin–piano duo with Erten Deniz Ispir won 1st prize at Ulvenhart Klassiek and was featured in a live broadcast on Dutch television. Their recording appeared on the 300 Jaar Violen album, produced by the Muziekinstrumenten Fonds and featuring various other artists.