Meet Arda Aykut | Violist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Arda Aykut and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arda, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Actually, when I was little, I didn’t know any other way. My father is an opera singer, my brother is a pianist, conductor and currently a PhD student in film music composition. When I reached the age of taking the conservatory exam, I was automatically prepared mentally. Frankly, at first, my father did not insist on making me take the entrance exam. Because he wanted to see if I would do this just because I wanted to and not because I was forced to do so. But as I said, I was quite prepared mentally and motivated for it because I couldn’t think of anything else and I wanted it very much. The teachers decided during the entrance exam of Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory that I should play the viola from now on. After studying both secondary school and high school there, I started my undergraduate education at the Berlin University of the Arts. Of course, until I came here, I tried to be in many fields and improve myself. With the many orchestras I participated in both at home and abroad, I had the opportunity to go abroad more and play more at every opportunity and in some of very important concert halls in Europe . During this period, I always tried to push myself by trying the competitions I came across. Meanwhile, as I received some awards from some competitions such as first place, honorable mention and special awards, questions about what I could do for the future and my development came to my mind. Such steps always motivated me. Later, after I started my education abroad, by focusing more on festivals and masterclasses and working with many masters in this context, I had the opportunity to hear my minuses and pluses from many more perspectives and improve them. All such factors,events and traveling in between them at different times in my life have always been my motivation, source of excitement and compass.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Making classical music is actually learning a language for me. We are trying to learn how to say it rather than what we say. And I feel very lucky to have received the training of this profession and to have grown up in this world. Because it is like an area that creates new excitements that can only move forward as long as it is loved. Your shortcomings and learning never stop, always something new at any age. Because we are changing, our surroundings and our ideas are changing, and therefore the music also changes somewhat depending on the way the performer performs it. Since,I have started playing viola, it wasn’t an easy process to reach where I am today and where I currently try to reach for my future. However, it is a profession that is very individual and is associated with the instrument you play so much that sometimes I had doubts, then I slowed down, or it became clearer, I accelerated, I always tried to do something step by step. Rather than following the path of others, I personally tried to learn from their example and draw my own path and be happy on that. Frankly, there were no serious obstacles in my life. There were bumps and hills for me, but they were always part of my goal. Rather than the bump I was stuck on, the goal I was getting closer to reaching after that made me much more excited and hopeful. This goal is no big or small for me. I always felt the same excitement if it would be good for me, if it would take me one step forward. In this context, going to Berlin for undergraduate education, being able to study there, and being one step closer to the international arena such as festivals, masterclasses and competitions that the opportunities there brought me, was one of my goals that has been shaping my path and motivating me for a long time. Now, it makes me very happy to work towards the goals I have set with my new perspectives and what this place has given me. And throughout this process, I realized better that when I decide to be myself, I take each step more happily, efficiently and with excitement.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
At first, I would probably tour the city center and just walk around with my friend. After digesting the center, we can visit the grammy museum. Then head to Echo Park by bike, having a coffee and move to Angels Point in the evening. The next day, we would definitely just wander around Hollywood, like the walk of frame, the other streets of Hollywood, rest, then going to the studios, and in the evening we would reach a street that saw the iconic Hollywood sign for sure. We would reserve the other days for Warner Bros and Disney Studios. As a Harry Potter fan, of course you can’t leave without going to Universal Studios. I hope we would have at least a week because I would definitely want to spend a day in Long Beach and we would probably end the trip with the view of Griffith Observatory

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First of all, I would like to start with my family sincerely that inspires me in every moment with what they’ve done and with their personalities. My mother, father and brother showed me very well what it means to love unconditionally, support and guide. At any time in my life, whenever I had a question or problem that bothered me or distracted me, I never hesitated to call them and ask them. They have always filled the gaps in my life in different areas. If I am who I am today and play the viola with pleasure, it is thanks to them. I learned the importance of loving music before making it at its perfect level as much as possible, and I was always supported on this path. I think, after doing it with such pleasure, trying to perform that music with the highest quality is becoming an inevitable goal and target at some point. There were definitely mentally and physically tiring processes, because it is truly a profession that will never end to be learned throughout life in my opinion, but as long as there are people and stories that we can hold on to along the way, one always feels the excitement of progress. Also, My teacher of 9 years at Ankara State Conservatory plays a big role in the bond I have with the viola today. Because, I believe, at that age, it mustn’t be so easy for a person to hold on to an instrument so much, to get tired, to shed tears or to be happy for it, and to maintain the stability of this. But she left me a bond that I will continue to love with my instrument in one way or another, always aiming for the better. Another gratitude goes to the people I have met at different times in my life, who played a very key role, whose stance I admire both professionally and personally, and who supported me unconditionally. Because I think one of the greatest chances for students like me who study classical music and are excited about it can be the people who embrace them both with their playing and their character, And of course, I owe a big thanks to everyone else who has given me all their support and love.

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Image Credits
Arın Aykut