Engin Gençer, who served as the sound engineer at Nardis Jazz Club from its opening in 2002 until 2012, retired voluntarily at the end of his 10th working year. Engin Gençer, who listened to nothing but jazz throughout his life, passed away on September 18, 2023, after a six-month illness. He was a jury member in all competitions since 2005. We remember him with love and respect, and we are naming this competition after him.
The competition name for the 19th year has been changed to the 19th Nardis “Engin Gençer” Young Jazz Vocal Competition.
The live final auditions of the Nardis “Engin Gençer” Young Jazz Vocal Competition were held last night at Nardis with the support of Yapı Kredi Play. Before this year’s candidates took the stage, we listened to a song from Rüzgar Yıldırım, last year’s highest-scoring vocalist.
Ten contestants performed two songs each live, accompanied by the house band consisting of Uraz Kıvaner on piano, Ozan Musluoğlu on bass, and Ferit Odman on drums. After the live performances, there was a 45-minute break for jury evaluations.
This year’s competition awards were distributed as follows:
- Istanbul Jazz Festival and Begüm Çelebi
- Akbank Jazz Festival Güneş Cengiz and Adar Geçimli
- Ankara Jazz Festival Elif Burcu Say
- PUR Studio EP Recording Award Begüm Çelebi and Adar Geçimli
- Pera 77 – Begüm Çelebi
- Nardis Jazz Club – Güneş Cengiz
- NTV Jazz Magic Program Invitation – Aslı Soyer
The performers who took the stage during the evening, in order of appearance:
- İnci Öcal
- Öykü Güvençel
- Elif Burcu Say
- Begüm Çelebi
- Aslı Soyer
- Dora Özal
- Elmira Akgün
- Ada Öykü Erdem
- Güneş Cengiz
- Adar Geçimli
Our Jury Members:
- Aydın Kahya – Musician
- Cem Tuncer – Musician
- Dilek Sert Erdoğan – Musician
- Eren Noyan – Musician
- Gözde Sıvışoğlu – Akbank Jazz Festival Director
- Hakan Tüfekçi – NTV Radio
- Harun İzer – IKSV Jazz Festival Director
- Önder Focan – Musician
- Sıtkı Sırtanadolu – Musician
- Sedat Ergin – Journalist
- Sibel Köse – Musician
Concerts
- 1 contestant will perform at the 31st Istanbul Jazz Festival
- 1 contestant will perform at the 34th Akbank Jazz Festival
- 1 contestant will perform at the 28th Ankara Jazz Festival
Additionally, various honorable mentions such as jazz club performances and radio program appearances will be awarded to suitable contestants.
Selection Committee
- Arda Öztaşkın – YKB Brand Director
- Aydın Kahya – Musician
- Cem Tuncer – Musician
- Dilek Sert Erdoğan – Musician
- Ece Göksu – Musician
- Eren Noyan – Musician
- Gözde Sıvışoğlu – Akbank Jazz Festival Director
- Hakan Tüfekçi – Radio Programmer
- Harun İzer – Istanbul Jazz Festival Director
- Önder Focan – Musician
- Özlem Oktar Varoğlu – Ankara Jazz Festival Director
- Sedat Ergin – Journalist
- Sıtkı Sırtanadolu – Musician
- Sibel Köse – Musician
Nardis Jazz Club may appoint another person as a Selection Committee member if any member resigns or cannot participate in committee activities.
Application files and demo recordings must be submitted via email (focan@nardisjazz.com) by Monday evening, February 26, 2024.
Evaluation
- The application deadline is Monday, February 26, 2024.
- Demo recordings of jazz vocalists who have applied by February 26 will be listened to by the Selection Committee, and the ten most successful applications, based on the average of committee members’ evaluations for each contestant, will be invited to the evaluation concert. The announcement regarding this invitation will be published on Nardis’s website and communicated directly to the relevant participants.
- The evaluation concert will be held on Monday, March 25, 2024, at Nardis Jazz Club, open to audiences. Vocalists invited to the evaluation concert will perform two pieces of their choice accompanied by a trio determined by the club, in front of the audience and selection committee. The order of performance will be determined by drawing lots.
- Following the evaluation concert, the selection committee will choose and announce the finalists who will be eligible to participate in the “Young Jazz Vocal” concerts.
