vokal akademi

What vokal akademi does

Vokal Akademi is a non-profit vocal music collective and educational platform headquartered in Şişli, Istanbul, founded in 2020 (with its flagship Chromas choir active since 2015). It operates four permanent choirs — Chromas (a cappella world-standard), Vibe (pop and jazz), Popcaz, and Vokal Akademi Müzikal Korosu (musical theater) — that rehearse weekly under the direction of founder and Artistic Director Başak Doğan. The organization also runs the annual international VoiceUp A Cappella Festival, multi-day workshop ateliers with master conductors, single-session "tadımlık" (appetizer) workshops, and the Global Vocal Happening online initiative connecting vocal communities worldwide.

The academy's core instructional technology is the Vocal Painting (VOPA) methodology, a 75-sign improvisation system developed in partnership with Danish Royal Academy professor Jim Daus Hjernøe that enables singers to communicate and harmonize without sheet music. This sits within a broader curriculum covering vocal technique, rhythm, stage performance, and a cappella ensemble work. The platform is delivered through an in-person facility at Now Bomonti in Istanbul and is marketed primarily through Instagram, YouTube, and the academy's Wix-based website.

Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring choir participation fees (subscription), individual workshop fees, and VoiceUp Festival ticket sales (e.g., 250 TL + VAT for a daily pass, sold via the Passo platform), supplemented by event sponsorships led by DenizBank and institutional support from Istanbul, Şişli, and Beşiktaş municipalities, plus venue partnerships with CRR, İTÜ Maçka, and ARTER. The academy serves amateur and professional singers, existing vocal groups, music educators and students, and the general public, with its 2023 festival having drawn 550 musicians from 25 countries.

Name

vokal akademi

Legal name

Vokal Akademi

Website

https://vokalakademi.co

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vokal Akademi is an Istanbul-based non-profit vocal music collective operating four permanent choirs, an annual international a cappella festival (VoiceUp), and vocal technique workshops built around its proprietary Vocal Painting methodology, serving amateur and professional singers in Turkey and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

HQ country

Türkiye

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Workshop and Festival Fees: Revenue is generated through ticket sales for the annual VoiceUp A Capella Festival (full pass and daily pass), individual workshop fees, and participant registration fees for choirs and vocal groups.
2. Choir Membership: Ongoing choir participation fees for Vibe and other choirs under the Vokal Akademi umbrella, with regular weekly rehearsals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vokal Akademi runs permanent choirs (Chromas, Vibe, Vokal Akademi Pop & Caz Korosu, Müzikal Korosu) with weekly rehearsals, delivers vocal music workshops (Vocal Painting, Solo Performance, Move & Groove, Glee), and organizes the annual international VoiceUp A Cappella Festival in Istanbul. Its core methodology is Vocal Painting (VOPA), a 75-sign vocal improvisation system developed in partnership with Professor Jim Daus Hjernøe of the Royal Danish Academy.

Product overview

Vokal Akademi is a collective vocal music platform based in Istanbul, Turkey, centered around the human voice as the sole instrument. The organization operates as a unified educational and performance platform comprising multiple permanent choirs (Chromas, Vibe, and Vokal Akademi Pop & Caz Korosu), an annual international VoiceUp A Cappella Festival, the Global Vocal Happening online initiative, and various workshop offerings including Vocal Painting, solo performance masterclasses, and rhythmic workshops. The core offering centers on choir programs, multi-part music workshops, concerts, and community gatherings, with international artists contributing through workshops and masterclasses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VoiceUp Festival: Annual international a cappella vocal music festival organized by Vokal Akademi, attracting participants from multiple countries.
• Chromas
• Vibe
• Global Vocal Happening

Products and services

• Chromas Choir A world-class a cappella choir based in Turkey, founded in 2015, known for extraordinary repertoire, innovative stage presence, and recognized as a pioneer in choir music. Performs at international level under Vokal Akademi.
• Vibe Choir An a cappella pop and jazz choir that rehearses every Wednesday 19:00-21:30, performing rhythmic choral works with high musicality.
• Vokal Akademi Pop & Caz Korosu The academy's permanent pop and jazz choir performing alongside Chromas under the Vokal Akademi umbrella.
• Vocal Painting Workshop A non-verbal communication system for singers and conductors to improvise freely and harmonize with the rest of the choir, consisting of 75 signs created by Professor Jim Daus Hjernøe of the Royal Danish Academy.
• Solo Performance Masterclass A masterclass for stage performance, teaching comfort in front of audiences, expressing emotions, staying present, stage usage, interpretation, and exploring vocal limits.
• Move & Groove Workshop A workshop on rhythm with various time signatures (4/4, 5/8, 3/4, 9/8), polyrhythmic music games, and synchronizing body and mind with rhythm.
• Glee Workshop A workshop combining singing with dance, featuring a cappella ensemble work, solo singing, and performance mastery.
• Tadımlık (Appetizer) Workshops Single-session workshops led by international conductors covering topics from Indonesian folk songs to metal a cappella, microtonal singing, live looping, vocal improvisation, and more.
• Festival Atelier (Multi-day Workshops) Four-day intensive workshops with master conductors totaling 12 hours plus concert, where participants work on new repertoire for closing concert performance.
• VoiceUp A Cappella Festival Annual international a cappella vocal music festival featuring concerts, workshops, open singing, and parties in central Istanbul. The 2023 edition hosted 550 musicians from 25 countries.
• Global Vocal Happening A 24-hour online initiative connecting East with West and South with North, focusing on vocal music from around the globe, hosted by Vokal Akademi Istanbul.

Quantifiable outcome

• VoiceUp Festival 2023 brought together 550 musicians from 25 countries over 5 days
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• İstanbul Büyükşehir BelediyesiminorOthersIstanbul Metropolitan Municipality is listed as a supporting partner of the VoiceUp Festival, providing institutional backing and venue or logistical support for festival activities.
• Şişli BelediyesiminorOthersŞişli Municipality is listed as a supporting partner of the VoiceUp Festival, providing institutional and community support.
• Beşiktaş BelediyesiminorOthersBeşiktaş Municipality is listed as a supporting partner of the VoiceUp Festival.
• İstanbul SeninminorOthersListed as a supporting partner of the VoiceUp Festival, Istanbul Senin is a city-supported cultural initiative.
• Cemal Reşit Rey Konser Salonu (CRR)coreOthersCRR (Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall) is the primary venue partner for the VoiceUp Festival's opening, closing, and gala concerts. Located in Şişli, Istanbul.
• İTÜ (İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi) Maçka KampüsücoreOthersIstanbul Technical University's Maçka Campus serves as a key venue for festival ateliers, workshops, and concerts during the VoiceUp Festival.
• ARTERcoreOthersARTER (İstanbul Modern's contemporary art space) is a venue partner for the VoiceUp Festival, hosting panel discussions, concerts, and workshops at its Sevgi Gönül Auditorium.
• Zuhal MusicminorOthersZuhal Music is listed as an equipment sponsor for the VoiceUp Festival, providing audio equipment and musical instruments.
• ApostominorGTM or Marketing PartnerAposto is a media partner for the VoiceUp Festival, providing editorial coverage and promotional support for the event.
• ArtfullivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArtfulliving is a media partner for the VoiceUp Festival, covering cultural and arts events in Turkey.
• theMaggerminorGTM or Marketing PartnertheMagger is a media partner for the VoiceUp Festival, providing music and cultural journalism coverage.
• Canta al Mar / INTERKULTURminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChoir member groups such as Avaye Mahan have participated in INTERKULTUR's Canta al Mar festival and Asia Pacific Choir Competitions. The relationship connects Vokal Akademi's community to international choral competition circuits.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• European Choral Association - Europa Cantat: European federation organizing major choral festivals, workshops, and youth choir programs across Europe — comparable scale and mission but primarily Europe-focused, providing a model for what Vokal Akademi could build regionally.

Direct peers

• VOCES8: Internationally touring British a cappella vocal ensemble that runs an extensive education and workshop program (including the VOCES8 Foundation) closely paralleling Vokal Akademi's combination of performing choir + workshops + international workshops.
• Swingle Singers: London-based contemporary a cappella vocal group with a long-running education and workshop program; very similar operating model combining a touring ensemble with vocal coaching, masterclasses, and community events.
• National Youth Choir of Great Britain: UK non-profit running multiple auditioned youth choirs, an annual residential course, and international tours — a structurally similar multi-choir vocal academy with comparable scale and educational mission.
• Young People's Chorus of New York City: US non-profit operating multiple permanent youth choirs, festivals, and an international exchange program — closely mirrors Vokal Akademi's multi-choir structure, weekly rehearsal cadence, and international participants.
• The King's Singers: Premier British professional a cappella ensemble with a globally recognized educational arm, masterclasses, and workshops — directly comparable to Vokal Akademi's model of a flagship vocal group plus a teaching/community layer.
• Chanticleer: GRAMMY-winning American a cappella ensemble with a substantial education and outreach program delivering workshops, residencies, and community concerts — directly comparable performing-plus-education model.
• INTERKULTUR: Germany-based organizer of international choral competitions and festivals (Canta al Mar, World Choir Games) — a directly comparable operator of large-scale choral gatherings, and a known partner of Vokal Akademi-affiliated choirs.

Emerging players

• A Cappella Academy: US-based online platform offering contemporary a cappella education, vocal production, and group coaching — adjacent digital-only competitor targeting the same singer/educator audience with a scalable delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Berklee College of Music: Large US-based music education institution that, while vastly bigger and broader than Vokal Akademi, occupies the same vocal/contemporary-music education space and is a competitor for serious vocal students globally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@VokalAkademi
• Facebookfacebook.com/vokalakademi
• Instagraminstagram.com/vokal.akademi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vokal-akademi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about vokal akademi