Eylem Basaldi is a Turkish-born violinist, composer, and educator whose work bridges classical training with the folk traditions of the Middle East, Balkans, and beyond. Classically trained at the New England Conservatory, she rediscovered a kindred connection to folk and classical music of these regions, reigniting her lifelong love of traditional song. 

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A sought-after improviser and music director, Basaldi is a founding member of Dolunay, a band dedicated to the music of Rumeli, and a longtime collaborator with Sandaraa, an international project celebrating balochi music of Pakistan. She also frequently collaborates with the Turkish American Orchestra and theatre director Andrea Assaf (Art2Action). Basaldi’s performances have taken her to prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Symphony Hall, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, as well as theatrical productions on and off Broadway. 

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Basaldi has shared the stage with a diverse range of artists and ensembles across world, jazz, rock, and contemporary music, including Snarky Puppy, Dave Brubeck, the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, National Arab Orchestra, and more. She has also shared her expertise through workshops and masterclasses at institutions such as UCLA, Bard College, and Middlebury College. Current projects include Laura Elkeslassy’s “Ya Ghorbati: Divas in Exile” which explores North African repertoire from the last century, Hamed Sinno’s (Mashrou Leila) “Poems of Consumption,” and Gordon Grdina’s “Ru’Ya.” 

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Praised for her “haunting and brilliant” sound (Lucid Culture) and “breathtaking” performances (WholeNote), Basaldi is recognized for the unique depth she brings to every project, drawing equally from her Turkish roots, her classical training, and her ability to listen deeply and translate the human voice through the violin.