We have asked Pascale Rubens, the diatonic accordionist, to close this session of the Solo Challenge. We know Pascale as the accordionist of the group Naragonia, who always manages to surprise with her beautiful compositions. Pascale initially followed classical violin studies but fell in love with the diatonic accordion at the age of 18.

Emre Gültekin was initiated into the art of the Turkish saz by Talip Özkan and his father, the bard Lütfü Gültekin. Emre learned to play saz, a long-necked lute that produces the most subtle harmonies. This elusive instrument made its way through the Middle East to Siberia, taking on all shapes and sizes. It was in Anatolia that the saz flourished with masters such as Talip Ozkan and Mustafa Karaçeper, who passed on their art to Emre.

Myrddin De Cauter, the youngest son of multi-instrumentalist musician Koen De Cauter, is a phenomenon in the Belgian music scene. Born in a musical family, he learned from a very young age to play the clarinet (mainly jazz and Gipsy style) and the drums. At age of fourteen he discovered the flamenco guitar and was bitten by the richness and originality of this musical culture.

In the acoustic guitar world today, Jacques Stotzem is one of the “fingerstyle” guitarists with the most diversified style. Born in 1959 in Verviers, the Belgian guitarist has recorded 12 CDs and is high up on the list for fans of the acoustic guitar. Readers of the influential German acoustic guitar magazine “Akustik Gitarre” have likened Stotzem to artists such as Leo Kottke, Paco De Lucia, Neil Young and Keb’ Mo’.