A native of Istanbul, Turkey, Yankı Karataş joined the Houston Symphony in April 2024. Prior to her appointment, she was a violin fellow at the New World Symphony and performed with many orchestras including the San Diego Symphony, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic, and Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra.
She moved to the United States in 2014 and received her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at Stony Brook University studying with Hagai Shaham, Philip Setzer, and Arnaud Sussmann. She also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Istanbul Conservatory, studying with Pelin Halkaci Akin and graduating with the highest honors.
An avid chamber musician, Yankı studied under the Emerson String Quartet Intensive program and won the Lauren V. Ackerman Chamber Music Prize performing Ligeti’s Horn Trio. Additionally, she’s had the privilege of performing alongside artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Lawrence Dutton, Paul Watkins, Colin Carr, and Arnaud Sussmann during her studies. As a soloist, Yankı played various concertos with the Mersin University Academic Chamber Orchestra, Mimar Sinan Symphony, and Stony Brook Symphony.
Outside of performing, Yankı has maintained and enjoyed her private teaching studio for many years and plans to keep teaching an integral part of her life.