Onur Özkaya | Double Bass
Senka Simonović | Piano 

Founded in 2023, the Özkaya-Simonovic Duo consists of Serbian pianist Senka Simonović and Turkish bassist Onur Özkaya, who live and work in Istanbul. These already establish musicians met in Serbia where they gave their first recital who has been awarded with standing ovations and they have been playing together ever since.

Their program includes works by composers from musical periods from the Baroque to the contemporary era. The duo constantly explores new repertoires and they bring new life to each performance, creating a unique and engaging stage presence. The ensemble has strived to enrich the Double Bass repertoire by discovering lesser-known, neglected works or playing new repertoire of modern living composers written for them. They have played Özkan Manav Turkish Premiere of the the incredibly virtuous piece "Horon", written for Onur Özkaya.

Concert engagements include performances in the Serbia and Turkey. They have performed at Sureyya Opera House, Yeldeğirmeni Art Centre, Arter Museum,... They were invited to numerous festivals including the Bassiona Niš Festival, Eskişehir Bass Week, Tonedmelisma Festival…

Over the last year the double bass and piano duo have delighted audiences with their passionate playing and vibrant presentation. Both have been trained in a style that emphasizes flashy virtuosity, but their musical temperaments are so similar–fiery, confident, with a penchant for explosive percussive effects.Though each pays attention to the other’s phrasing and dynamics to avoid dominating a performance, they achieve this balance not by holding back but by matching each other’s heights. Their endearing stage presence makes their teamwork emotionally satisfying, not just technically impressive.