Dilbağ Tokay (Istanbul, Turkey)

Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul State Conservatory

 

Dilbağ Tokay started studying the cello at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSFAU) Istanbul State Conservatory with Reşit Erzin, and received her DMA from the same conservatory.

She has worked with prominent cellists such as M. Khomitzer, N. Ullner, F. Berthold, A. Rudin and has given numerous recitals, chamber music concerts, and orchestral concerts as a soloist in Serbia, Sweden, Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Spin, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Syria, India, and Brazil. Additionally, she has given masterclasses in Bulgaria, Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, and Brazil as well as those in numerous cities of Turkey .

Additionally, she has given masterclasses at various centers in Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia, Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, and Brazil. She was a jury member at international competitions in Italy, Bulgaria, Serbia, Finland, and Turkey. Since 1998, she has been giving concerts with pianist Emine Serdaroğlu as “CelloPianoDuo.” The duo has released the album “Turkish Music for Cello and Piano” through NAXOS, as well as three albums titled “Cello and Piano Works“ and “Dreamlike” published by Pür Records on digital platforms like Spotify and iTunes.

Since its inception back in 2020, Dilbağ Tokay has been giving concerts as a member of the cello quartet, Cello Paradiso. Their debut album “Cello Paradiso” was released on Spotify, iTunes as well as other digital platforms. In additon to their album, The group also released a single; A cello quartet arrangement of, prominent Turkish pianist Fazıl Say’s “Kumru Ballad” which was highly praised.

Besides her stage performances, Dilbag Tokay is also engaged in advisory work as Arts & Music Consultant and Organizer of IDEA Music. Furthermore, she is a member of “ENKA Stage Project” Advisory Board, linked with ENKA Arts. At present, Dilbag Tokay works an Associate Professor at MSFAU Istanbul State Conservatuary.

Tokay has been awarded numerous prizes for scholarly excellence from international competition bodies. Among these awards are the following: “Teacher Award” from the Haydn Young Musician Competition and “Distinguished Cello Teacher Award” from the Global Genius Music Competition in England; “Best Cello Teacher Award” from the International Antonio Janigro Violoncello Competition in Croatia; “Excellence in Cello Education Award” from the International German and Austrian Music Competition and “Teacher Award” The Sound of Time Competition in Bulgaria; “Excellence in Cello Teaching Award” from the International Young Musicians Competition in Italy; “Distinguished Cello Teacher Award” from the IMKA Competition in Bosnia and Herzegovina; “High Honours Award” from the International E-Muse Competition” in Greece; and in Turkey, “Year’s Best Music Teacher Award ” from the renowned Andante Classical Music Awards. CelloPianoDuo “Turkish Music for Cello and Piano” CD released by NAXOS was honored with the “2016 Best Recording of the Year Award” at the prestigious Donizetti Classical Music Awards.