Former Orchestra Director of Tri-Cities High School, having previously taught as the Professor of Violin at Wichita State University, University of Texas-RGV. She was trained in prestigious conservatories of Europe and holds four degrees in violin performance and string pedagogy. She had served as a faculty member and artist in residence at Gordon State College, Clayton State University, Seminole College, Bilkent University, AIMA; Ayvalik International Music Academy, Hochschule der Künste Bern, Schwyz Music Conservatory, Suzuki Institute of Orlando, and other public school institutions in various states. Throughout her teaching career her students have won multiple awards, competitions, and variety of auditions.
Some of her influential teachers throughout her studies were, Iwona Wojciechowska, the great Romanian virtuoso Ion Voicu and world-renowned violinist and pedagogue Igor Ozim. She received a special distinction award for her Concert Diploma recital as well as first prize of Concerto Competition in Switzerland. During her studies in Europe, Betul has taken active part in master classes and seminars with world-renowned musicians such as Vladimir Spivakov, Igor Ozim, Igor Oistrach, Victor Pikaizen, Trio di Trieste, Stanislav Apolin, Rudolf Baumgartner, and Siegfried Palm are few to mention. She has performed in Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Germany, France, Holland, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and many states in the US, as well as in some of the most prestigious halls around the World, such as: Spivey Hall, Tonhalle Zürich, Concertgebouw, Grand Casino Symphony Hall Bern, Teatro dei Rozzi and others.
As a recording artist, she completed a recording of Cesar Frank’s Sonata, Swiss composers and “Complete Sonatas and Selective Violin Works of Joaquin Turina” with pianist Anatoly Sheludyakov.
Dr. Soykan pedagogical approach is dedicated to the strings education and promotion of string music, styled after European Conservatories. She always gives the students the prospect of expanding their own individuality and interpretation while developing a solid technical foundation for each student, which will secure technical control over the instrument and allow them to have the freedom to focus on the music and its interpretation. As a mentor she has produced exceptional musicians and served as a judge in many competitions and as a clinician for master classes and summer courses.
