BIOGRAPHY

Meriç Çalışan (b. 1993, Ankara) is a Turkish jazz vocalist and academic whose work bridges artistic performance and research.

She began her musical education at the age of seven at the SCA Music Foundation and later pursued jazz vocal studies at Hacettepe University State Conservatory. During her studies, she worked with distinguished artists including Yıldız İbrahimova and Randy Esen, whose mentorship contributed to the development of her artistic identity and approach to improvisation.

​

Following her undergraduate studies, Çalışan joined the faculty of Hacettepe University State Conservatory as an instructor. In 2018, she was accepted to Codarts University of the Arts in Rotterdam, where she pursued graduate studies in jazz vocal performance under the guidance of vocalists and educators Francien van Tuinen, Harjo Pasveer, and Bart de Win. During her studies, she also had the opportunity to work with internationally acclaimed jazz musicians, including Tineke Postma, Dick de Graaf, and Jarmo Hoogendijk. She also performed alongside de Graaf as part of his concert series.

​

Throughout her performing career, Çalışan has appeared at numerous national and international festivals and cultural events, including the Istanbul Jazz Festival, Ankara Jazz Festival, North Sea Round Town Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam, and Umbria Jazz Workshop, among others.

 

Alongside her performing career, she is actively engaged in artistic research, with a particular focus on jazz vocal performance and improvisation. In March 2020, she was awarded Second Prize in the Codarts Artistic Research Competition, where the jury commended her work for its strong methodology, musical depth, and potential contribution to both jazz and makam traditions.

 

Çalışan holds a Proficiency in Arts degree (PhD equivalent) in Vocal Performance and is currently a faculty member at Başkent University State Conservatory. She continues to perform in national and international projects while pursuing research at the intersection of voice, improvisation, and artistic inquiry.