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Women’s Voices Shines a Spotlight on Female Performing Artists During Rotterdam Year of the Woman
This autumn, Culture Connection presents the new series Women’s Voices as part of the Rotterdam Year of the Woman. The series offers a platform for inspiring female musicians and creators who boldly carve their own path, using their art, vision, and ideals to make the world a better place.
The first concert takes place on Thursday, 30 October 2025, at Grounds, featuring performances by singer Ysa Bermejo and the Ayal Ensemble. Together, they pay a musical tribute to women’s voices from around the world.
Ysa Bermejo
Spanish singer-songwriter Ysa Bermejo delivers passionate lyrics with powerful social messages, inspired by Latin American icons such as Toto la Momposina and Celia Cruz. Her vibrant music blends her Spanish roots with Latin influences and Rotterdam’s contemporary urban sound. At Women’s Voices, she performs songs from her latest album Gabriela, accompanied by guitarist Michalis Michailidis, exploring themes of female empowerment, freedom, and motherhood.
Ayal Ensemble
Ayal Ensemble is a Rotterdam-based collective of female musicians from diverse backgrounds, founded by vocalist Emine Tokail. Through their own interpretations and personal stories, they revive folk songs written by or for women—music that is often forgotten or overlooked. Performing in languages such as Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Kurdish, and Greek, they celebrate the rich musical heritage of women across cultures.
Ensemble members: Emine Tokail (vocals), Khorshid Dadbeh (tar, tanbour), Lucie Rosanne Lelaurain (duduk), Flavia Escartin (cello), Hasret Zilan Yildiz (percussion), Borbála Malyi (bağlama, lavta).
Event Details
Location: Podium Grounds, Pieter de Hoochweg 125, 3024 BG Rotterdam
Date: Thursday, 30 October 2025
Time: 19:30 (doors open at 19:00)
🎟️ Tickets & More Info: www.culture-connection.org | www.grounds.nu
Listening Recommendations
- Ysa Bermejo music videos: Tarantino, Se Muera
- Ayal music video: Atashi Dar
Women’s Voices is produced by Culture Connection in collaboration with Grounds, Codarts Global Musics, Rotterdam Year of the Woman, Stichting Mano, and others. With thanks to the Municipality of Rotterdam, Cultuurfonds, Elise Mathilde Fonds, Neyenburgh Fonds, and Van Beek-Donner Stichting.
