EFRÉN LÓPEZ / SOFIA LABROPOULOU / sAKINA TEYNA
concert
Tue. 13. May, 19:30
EFRÉN LÓPEZ Oud / SOFIA LABROPOULOU Kanun / SAKINA TEYNA Voice
In the second concert of Unbounded Sounds, Sofia Labropoulou welcomes her long-time collaborator, multi-instrumentalist Efrén López, a visionary artist renowned for his expertise in medieval and global music.
For the second half, they will be joined by the dynamic Kurdish-Viennese vocalist Sakina Teyna, marking the first live collaboration of this trio.
Location: Sargfabrik Kulturhaus (Goldschlagstraße 169, 1140 Wien)
Accessibility: The venue is wheelchair accessible.
workshop
Wed. 14. May, 10:00 - 17:30
EFRÉN LÓPEZ & SOFIA LABROPOULOU Ottoman music Influence on Sephardic Music
This workshop delves into the profound influence of Ottoman classical music on the rich tradition of Sephardic music. Central to the discussion is the adoption of the makam system—a defining feature of Ottoman music—and its integration into Sephardic melodies. Participants will explore how Sephardic and Ottoman music became intertwined over centuries in cultural hubs such as Izmir, Istanbul, Edirne, and Thessaloniki, creating a shared musical language rooted in cultural exchange.
The workshop will provide insights into the improvisational elements of these traditions and its deep connections to Ottoman classical, Turkish, and Greek folk music traditions. This exploration will be enriched through a focus on Sephardic repertoire from the region, with selected pieces that highlight their alignment with makam theory. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how these interconnected influences continue to shape the music of the Mediterranean, offering a rich context for appreciating the enduring legacy of Sephardic and Ottoman musical traditions.
Location: mica – music Austria Seminarraum (Stiftgasse 29, 1070 Wien)
Duration: 6 hours
Time: 10:00 – 17:30 (with pause)
Participation fee: 80 euros
Language: English
Accessibility: The workshop room is wheelchair accessible
All workshops are open to composers and musicians of all instruments.
About the artists
Efrén López
Oud
“Efrén López has been widely praised for his exceptional musicianship and his ability to seamlessly fuse diverse musical traditions. With deep roots in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and medieval music, he masterfully bridges past and present, tradition and innovation, crafting soundscapes that transcend borders.”
Efrén López, born in 1972 in Valencia, Spain, is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer specializing in the hurdy-gurdy and various lutes from the European medieval tradition as well as the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, and Central Asia. Over the past 30 years, he has participated in numerous creative music projects in these regions, collaborating with renowned artists such as Jordi Savall, Ross Daly, Trio Petrakis/Lopez/Chemirani, Stelios Petrakis, Kelly Thoma, Katerina Papadopoulou, Derya Türkan, and Zohar Fresco, among others.
López has performed on prestigious stages and at festivals across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, America, China, and India. He has contributed to more than 100 albums and worked as a sound engineer, arranger, and producer for artists such as Ross Daly, L’Ham de Foc, Stelios Petrakis, and Ziya Tabassian. His work has also been featured on television and radio, including channels such as TVE-2, BBC, ERT, and RNE-Radio 3.
Sofia Labropoulou
Kanun player, composer, improviser and artistic director of Unbounded Sounds
“Sofia Labropoulou has translated the musical heritage of the European and Aegean musical tradition into a living practice.” Cecile Olshausen – SRF 2 Kultur
Sofia Labropoulou is an internationally acclaimed kanun player, composer, and improviser celebrated for her groundbreaking approach to the instrument.
By blending Eastern Mediterranean folk music, Ottoman classical traditions, Western medieval, contemporary, and experimental music, she creates a sound that is both deeply personal and globally resonant.
Classically trained in piano and percussion, Sofia discovered her passion for the kanun as a teenager and later moved to Istanbul to study Ottoman music in depth. Over the years, she has pushed the boundaries of the kanun, taking the instrument into entirely new territories, far beyond its traditional frameworks. Her innovative techniques and experimental compositions have redefined its role in contemporary music, establishing her as a pioneer in the field.
Sofia has collaborated with wonderful artists across genres, performing on prestigious stages worldwide and leading masterclasses in kanun and Greek folk music. Her acclaimed solo album Sisyphus (Odradek Records, 2020) showcased her unique ability to intertwine tradition and innovation, while her upcoming album Spiral continues to explore new sonic possibilities and brings the kanun out of its sonic limits.
As the founder and artistic creator of Unbounded Sounds, Sofia brings her vision of cross-cultural collaboration and artistic dialogue to life. The festival exemplifies her belief in the transformative power of music to connect people and traditions while pushing the limits of artistic expression.
Based in Vienna, Sofia Labropoulou continues to compose, perform, and inspire new generations of musicians with her revolutionary approach to the kanun and her dedication to reshaping the musical landscape.
Sakina Teyna
Voice
“A voice – emotional, empathic and full of power.Sakina not only enriches the Viennese music scene, but also countless renowned stages around the world” Nina Schedlymayer – art & science Κrems
Born in Varto to a Kurdish-Alevi family, Sakina Teyna grew up surrounded by Deyiş (Alevi spiritual songs) and storytelling. After exploring Kurdish vocal traditions at the Kurdish Cultural Center in Istanbul during the 1990s, she paused her artistic activities due to political unrest.
In 2006, she relocated to Austria as a political refugee and began sharing her music publicly once again, eventually performing across Europe. During this intense creative period, Sakina released her first solo album, ROYÊ MI.
Sakina has been involved in several notable projects, including founding TRIO MARA in 2011, blending Kurdish music with modern formats, and collaborating with the Anadolu Quartet, resulting in the acclaimed album KÖPRÜ/THE BRIDGE.
In 2015, she formed the jazz ensemble Sakina & Friends in Vienna with musicians from Austria, Spain, Iran, and Turkey, In 2019, the group recorded the album Longing/Bendewari/Intizar.
Deeply committed in advocating for women’s and human rights through her artistic work. Her multilingual and divers repertoire spans Kurdish dialects—Kurmanji, Zazaki, and Sorani— Turkish, Armenian, Persian, and Azerbaijani. Sakina’s work celebrates the richness of cultural and musical diversity. She lives and works in Vienna.