Kurdish Star Aynur Doğan to Headline New York's Symphony Space
Kurdish global music star Aynur Doğan will perform at NYC's Symphony Space on Nov 2, 2025. The concert, part of WMI's Women's Voices Series, celebrates her influential work in blending Kurdish folk traditions with contemporary sounds.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Renowned Kurdish artist Aynur Doğan is set to take the stage at New York City’s prestigious Symphony Space on November 2, 2025, a performance that highlights her significant role in global music and her commitment to preserving Kurdish cultural heritage.
The concert is part of the World Music Institute's (WMI) acclaimed "Women’s Voices Series," which, according to the organization, "celebrates female artists’ role in preserving and promoting their respective cultures and traditions."
In an announcement on its website, the New York-based non-profit organization expressed its enthusiasm for the upcoming event. "WMI proudly co-presented the NYC debut of Aynur in 2018 along with the School of Jazz at the New School, and we’re thrilled to welcome her back," the statement read.
The institute lauded Aynur as "one of the most powerful and influential artists" who exemplifies the spirit of its concert series. It noted that she "is deeply committed to preserving Kurdish and Alevi musical traditions and merging them with contemporary Western styles." Through this unique fusion, the WMI stated, "she has significantly influenced today’s Kurdish musical landscape, creating a link between history and the present."
Aynur Doğan, born in 1975 in the city of Tunceli (Dersim) in modern-day Turkey, has become one of the most celebrated interpreters of Kurdish folk music. She rose to international prominence with her 2004 album Keçe Kurdan (Kurdish Girl). The title track became a cultural anthem, but also a point of controversy when a Turkish court temporarily banned the album in 2005, claiming its lyrics encouraged separatism, a ruling that was later overturned. Her global profile was further boosted by her striking performance in Fatih Akin's 2005 documentary, "Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul."
Her dedication to her craft has earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious WOMEX 2021 Artist of the Year Award, one of the highest honors in the world music industry.
Throughout her extraordinary career, Aynur has engaged in collaborations with a host of internationally acclaimed musicians. According to WMI, these include cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, Maestro Riccardo Muti, master Persian instrumentalist Kayhan Kalhor, Spanish producer Javier Limón, and Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, who joined her on stage at her 2018 New York show.
While she has captivated audiences worldwide, Aynur maintains a strong connection with her homeland. As reported by the Kurdistan Chronicle, she has recently performed in the Kurdistan Region, including concerts in Soran and Zakho last May, demonstrating her enduring bond with the Kurdish people.
The upcoming performance in New York is being hailed as another significant milestone for an artist who, as the World Music Institute noted, has a unique "ability to unite people through music."
