Can Gazi 's cup is full again

[Marions]

Coffee Cup Conversations straight from the pen of Can Gazi himself:
" There's a lot going on in the music scene here in North Cyprus at the moment. The entertainment industry has certainly picked up over the past few years, with high quality musicians providing all genres of music - from pop and soul, to rock, reggae and country. Whilst we all appreciate the variety on offer, sometimes it's difficult to choose which singer or group to support. I recently met a very talented lady who is fast becoming a rising star in North Cyprus, she is Miray Çakır. Miray was born in Ankara, Turkey, but has lived most of her life in North Cyprus and also for around ten years, in America. Her father is Turkish and her mother Turkish Cypriot, but Miray doesn't like to put a label on her ethnicity, "I'm a person of the Earth, an Earthling," she exclaims! Chatting recently about her passion for music and singing she tells me that she began singing at the age of three, before she even began to talk properly. There was always a song she'd hum along to, or try to sing along with. At the young age of seven she became interested in folk-dancing and in folk music. Her school teacher advised her to learn to play the recorder and to perform traditional Turkish Cypriot folk tunes. Two years later, aged nine, Miray took another step forward and learnt to play the violin. Not the first musical instrument that comes to mind for a young girl to learn (think piano or guitar), yet she learnt to play it well...very well! After graduating from the Fine Arts High School, Miray went to Turkey to study music at the Hacettepe University State Conservatory. Returning to North Cyprus, Miray intended to move away from music to concentrate on other things. However she was eventually introduced to some inspiring lecturers working in the music department at Eastern Mediterranean University in Gazimağusa. So passionate was she to learn more about the violin that she even followed a couple of her mentors when they went back to America. Arizona became her new home for the next few years and after more tuition at the University of Arizona she became an expert violinist. Originally trained as a classical violinist, whilst in America Miray fell in love with jazz music, in particular "Gypsy Jazz." This style of jazz music originated in France in the 1930s, yet it's still a popular sound around the world today. During her time in the USA Miray was fortunate enough to be part of a music group that would play at many gigs around the state of Arizona. Her band was called 'Duo Vibrato' and they became so popular that they were filmed live for a television show. Audio clips taken from that TV show gave them enough material to make an album. The album can be bought on iTunes and their video clips can still be seen on YouTube. Earlier this year Miray returned to her homeland of North Cyprus and is still performing in front of the audiences. She sings and plays the violin in a newly formed band called 'Another Trio' and has wowed the crowds in venues across the country, from Girne to Gazimağusa. Excitedly Miray tells me that she is also part of the newly established TRNC Presidential Symphony Orchestra, and is looking forward to working with this prestigious ensemble. Miray concludes our chat admitting the it felt strange the first time she held a violin in her hand at the age of nine. However, today she is comfortable being a violinist and is very happy to offer classical and jazz music to her fans. Her love of music has already opened up many doors around the world, and who knows how many more exciting adventures lie around the corner for this talented and charming musician."

[Cally]

I am not a musical person as such but this is a lovely piece to read of a young girl growing musically & returning to her roots. Thank you