Aysegül Koca was born in Ankara, Turkey. She started to play guitar at the age of 8. At just 12, she was admitted to Bilkent University Music Preparatory School Department of Classical Guitar, the most prestigious conservatory in Turkey with scholarship.
She won numerous guitar competitions such as José Tomas Guitar Competition in 2007 Almería, Spain (First Prize), Eduard Pamfil Young Guitarists Competition in 2005 in Romania (First Prize and Special Jury Award), National Mavi Marti Guitar Competition in 2006 Istanbul, Turkey (First Prize), National Inonu University Guitar Competition in 2008 in Turkey (Second Prize), Enrico Mercatali Guitar Competition in 2009 in Italy (Second Prize and Special Public Award).
She was only 19 when she held a Bachelor’s Degree which she obtained from the Conservatorium Maastricht in the Netherlands, under supervision of Carlo Marchione. Afterwards, she was accepted to the class of renowned guitarist Aniello Desiderio at Koblenz Guitar Academy in Germany where she received a Postgraduate degree. In 2015 she graduated with a Master’s Degree at Kunstuniversität Graz in Austria where she studied with Paolo Pegoraro. She holds a doctoral degree in guitar performance from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University.
Aysegul Koca took part at various events and concert series including:
- Antonio Lauro Guitar Biennial-Turkey (2004),
- ASEG Guitar Meeting-Greece (2005),
- Turkey Guitar Meeting (2006-10,12,16,18,19),
- Julian Arcas Guitar Festival Almeria-Spain (2008),
- Klasik Keyifler Ensemble Festival-Turkey (2011),
- METU Guitar Festival-Turkey (2013,2015,2017),
- International Guitar Week Graz-Austria (2014),
- CRR Guitar Festival Istanbul-Turkey 2015,
- International Guitar Festival EBAUABJO Oaxaca-Mexico (2015,2016),
- Bilkent’s 30th Anniversary Festival-Turkey (2016),
- Gumusluk Music Festival Bodrum-Turkey (2016),
- BUAP Guitar Festival Puebla-Mexico (2016),
- Taxco Guitar Festival-Mexico (2017),
- Paracho Guitar Festival-Mexico (2017),
- La Guitarra Hoy-Mexico (2017),
- Acerra Guitar Meetings-Naples Italy (2017),
- North Cyprus International Music Festival (2017),
- Guitar Camera Celaya Festival–Mexico (2017),
- Queretaro Guitar Meeting–Mexico (2017),
- Istanbul Guitar Festival-Turkey (2018-2019),
- Antalya Guitar Festival-Turkey (2018),
- Miami GuitArt Festival- USA (2019-2022),
- Montenegro Guitar Festival Tivat-Montenegro (2019),
- Peja Guitar Festival – Kosovo (2019,2021),
- EuroStrings Guitar Festival and Competition –Croatia (2020),
- Karoon Guitar Festival – Iran (2020),
- Nordnorsk Guitar Festival – Norway (2021),
- Daleki Akordi – Split Croatia (2022),
- İzmit Guitar Days (2022),
- Kaş Classical Music Festival – Antalya Turkey,(2022),
- Camerata Festival -Xalapa Mexico (2022),
- Ankara Guitar Festival Turkey (2022),
- The Art of The Guitar – California USA (2022).
In addition, Ms. Koca appeared on many radio and TV programs by interviewing and playing such as National Public Radio of Turkey, Radio ODTU (Ankara), Radio Klasik Borusan, National Television of Serbia, Radio Helsinki (Graz), BravaNL TV channel (cooperated with Gitaarsalon) in the Netherlands, Periodico el Imparcial, COR TV and Radio Oaxaqueña in Mexico. As a soloist, Ms. Koca also has been invited to perform with “Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie” directed by Francesco Angela in 2010 in Germany, “Antalya State Symphony Orchestra” directed by Antonio Pirolli in 2012 in Turkey, “Xalapa Guitar Orchestra” directed by Alfonso Moreno in 2016 in Mexico and additionally she performed with them “Concierto del Sur” by Manuel Ponce in Teatro Macedonio Alcala which is one of the most important and historic halls in Mexico. A year after, this concerto was performed by her, together with Silvestre Revueltas Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jesus Almanza Castillo in Celaya, Mexico. The same year, she played the Turkey premiere of Concierto Madrigal by Joaquin Rodrigo with Bursa Region State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gints Glinka. In 2018, Ms. Koca released a live album collaborated with Orchestra Academic Baskent and conducted by Ertug Korkmaz. In 2019, she performed “Concerto in D major RV 93” with the Presidential Symphony Orchestra.
In 2016, she was invited by the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca in Mexico to work as a visiting professor at the department of classical guitar. Aysegul Koca is invited regularly to various national and international festivals, to play, to lead masterclasses as well as being a jury member at competitions. She is the founder and artistic director of the International Ankara Guitar Festival & Competition. Currently she works as a guitar instructor at Ankara Music and Fine Arts University in Turkey.
“Aysegul Koca is a dedicated young guitarist. The combination of her solid technique and musical sensitivity ensures that she will have a promising future as a fine performer.”
Thérèse Wassily Saba, Classical Guitar Magazine (2010), London.
AYSEGUL KOCA