
President
Ibrahim Yazici
Welcome to Ibrahim Yazici
Connecting Cultures Through Art and Heritage.
Ibrahim Yazici is the founder and president of the Turkish American Arts Society of New York (TAASNY), an organization dedicated to promoting Turkish culture and arts in the United States. With a passion for building cultural bridges through music, theater, and cinema, Yazici has played a pivotal role in bringing numerous Turkish art events to life in New York and beyond.
Meet Ibrahim Yazici: The Visionary Founder and President of TAASNY
Ibrahim Yazici is the founder and president of the Turkish American Arts Society of New York (TAASNY), an organization dedicated to promoting Turkish culture and arts in the United States. With a passion for building cultural bridges through music, theater, and cinema, Yazıcı has played a pivotal role in bringing numerous Turkish art events to life in New York and beyond.
As a New York-based producer, Ibrahim Yazici has organized numerous prestigious events, including concerts, theater performances, and cultural festivals. He has pioneered the introduction of Turkish artists to American audiences, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and creating opportunities for collaboration between Turkish and American art communities.
Since 2007, Ibrahim Yazici has brought milestone works of Turkish theater to Broadway stages:
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2008 Kanlı Nigar - The Town Hall
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2009 Hisseli Harikalar Kumpanyası - Beacon Theatre
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2010 Keşanlı Ali Destanı - The Town Hall
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2010 Uçan Adam - American Elementary Schools
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2014 Çalıkuşu - Off-Broadway
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2015 7 Kocalı Hürmüz - Off-Broadway
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2016 Neşeli Kabare (Written by İbrahim Yazıcı) - Signature Theater
In 2016, he pioneered the first-ever bilingual (English and Turkish) performances of the traditional Turkish shadow play Karagöz-Hacivat in the United States. To advance this art form, he collaborated with American puppeteer Cliff Long and held workshops with Hayali Nevzat Çiftçi in Bursa. Additionally, he received training from Şinasi Çelikkol, a Karagöz artist declared a "Living Human Treasure" by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Together with TAASNY Vice President Dr. Aysen Darcan, he developed the Karagöz Everywhere initiative, introducing thousands of children across the U.S. to this ancient art form. Yazici has also conducted presentations at academic institutions such as Yale University, Florida International University, UCON, Rutgers University, and Boston Latin School.
Yazici's notable projects include New Manhattan Sinfonietta, Karagoz Everywhere Turkish Shadow Theater, and traditional and contemporary Turkish theater productions organized by TAASNY in collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. These productions aim to showcase Turkish art and provide a platform for Turkish American artists to connect with key industry figures in the U.S.
Furthermore, since 2020, he has been the driving force behind the Anatolian Inspirations concert series, featuring renowned artists such as conductor Gurer Aykal, violinist Emre Engin, pianist Korkmaz Can Sağlam, and violinist Yiğit Karataş. These concerts, held at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, highlight the influence of Turkish music on the Western classical tradition.
Under Yazici's leadership, TAASNY has also hosted special cultural celebrations, such as the 30th August Victory Day Celebration and Children's Festival in New Jersey, bringing together families and communities to celebrate Turkish heritage with traditional performances, workshops, and entertainment.
His efforts to promote unity through art have been recognized by various organizations. His work with Maestro Gurer Aykal and the New Manhattan Sinfonietta Orchestra, as well as concerts such as A Call for World Peace with Seiji Mukaiyama and Hymns from Auschwitz with pianist Renan Koen at Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium, reflect his dedication to spreading messages of peace and unity through music.
