site.btaYildiz Ibrahimova Presented with Honorary Plaquette at Ankara Jazz Festival

Bulgarian-Turkish jazz singer Yildiz Ibrahimova received an honorary plaquette at the closing of the 29th Ankara Jazz Festival. The distinction was awarded in the presence of festival organizers and the leadership of the Middle East Technical University (METU), where she teaches, in recognition of her contribution to jazz music and her work in training dozens of young musicians.

Her students thanked her not only for her talent and professionalism, but also for the engaging stories that accompany her lessons. Ibrahimova told BTA that what matters most to her is helping students understand why jazz has become a global musical language.

"Through cultural bridges we can learn a lot from others, and they can learn from us. I have taught here for years, and it is a great joy to meet my students, former and current, anywhere in the world, whether they greet me or take part in my concerts. That is the greatest reward," she said.

Ibrahimova performed in a nearly three-hour concert alongside young musicians, her students, and METU faculty, including the METU Big Band conducted by Umit Eroglu. Her appearance late in the programme kept the audience in anticipation, and each of her genre-blending, improvisation-rich performances was met with prolonged applause.