
ILKIN ALPAY
SOPRANO
BIOGRAPHY
Recognized for her expressive artistry and compelling stage presence, Turkish soprano Ä°lkin Alpay began her musical journey in her hometown of Ankara. She discovered her passion for opera at an early age as a member of the Ankara State Opera Children’s Choir, performing in productions such as Turandot, Il Pagliacci, Othello, and La Bohème. At just 10 years old, she made her solo debut in Fazıl Say’s Nazım Oratorio. She first pursued a degree in Philosophy at Bilkent University before continuing her vocal studies with Oylun Erdayı at the State Conservatory of BaÅŸkent University, graduating with high honors in both fields.
Her international breakthrough came in 2016 when she won First Prize at the 18th Siemens Opera Competition. As a member of the Opera Studio at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe (2016-2021), she sang roles such as Ännchen (Der Freischütz), Gianetta (L’elisir d’amore), Taumännchen (Hänsel und Gretel), Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), and Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro).
Beyond Karlsruhe, she also appeared as a soloist in Ahmed Adnan Saygun’s Yunus Emre Oratorio at the Konzerthaus Berlin and performed at the German President’s Citizen Festival at Schloss Bellevue. Her international presence grew further with her solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall in New York. Additionally, the Siemens Arts Program invited her to sing at an open-air concert at the Brandenburg Gate alongside the Neue Philharmonie on German Unity Day.
During the pandemic, she received critical acclaim for her portrayal of the title role in Grigori Frid’s The Diary of Anne Frank, a film production in collaboration with the Staatstheater Karlsruhe and Staatstheater Cottbus. In the 2021/22 season, she debuted as Serpetta (La Finta Giardiniera) at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe and as Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi) at the Aalto-Theater Essen.
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While completing her master’s degree at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe with Prof. Christiane Libor, she was awarded the prestigious Bayreuth Scholarship by the Richard Wagner Scholarship Foundation. Her numerous performances in Karlsruhe earned her a nomination as "Best Young Artist" in Opernwelt Magazine in 2020.
In the 2024/25 season, she joined the ensemble of the Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theater Görlitz-Zittau, making her debut as Musetta in La Bohème. In 2025, she will take on the lead role of Eva in the French operetta Ta Bouche and portray Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica. With her versatile repertoire and captivating stage presence, she continues to leave a lasting impression on audiences worldwide.