Koen started her studies in music with the flute in 1979, when the conductor of the Amherst College Choir discovered her talent during his stay in İstanbul for the International
Music Festival. She started studying piano in 1983 with the composer Ali Darmar, and the “State Artist” Ayşegül Sarıca. Meanwhile, she received her secondary school degree from
the flute studio of “Nazım Acar” at Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory.

Between 1985 and 1986, she furthered her studies in piano in Paris with Germaine Mounier. In 1990-1991 she continued her studies in London with the pedagogue Maria Curcio and her assistant Mark Swartzentruber. 1995 brought her prizes in various competitions. She received the fourth prize in the “Chopin Etudes” competition hosted by Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory. She was awarded the second prize for her interpretation of a Cemal Reşit Rey composition entitled “Improvisation” in the competition held in honor of the composer. In that same year, she graduated from the piano studio of Judith Uluğ at Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory.

While continuing her career as a pianist, she developed an intense interest in the authentic melodies of both Anatolia and various musics of the world.In order to enrich these melodies further with a touch of the West, she worked on composition and electro-composition techniques with Dr. Pieter Snapper and studied composition theory and jazz harmony with euben de Lautour. The artist who believes deeply in the bonding power and healing mission of music completed the Art et Qualite de Vie – L’art en Prévention Thérapie et Pédagogie” program, certified by the European Music Therapy Federation under the tutelage of psychologist-pedagogue and music therapist Lianna Polychroniadou Prinou.

The same year, she became the first female Turkish member of “La Société Hellénique du Musicotherapie et Expression Créative“ Federation. As she started to specialize more in music-therapy, Koen was able to develop her own unique music therapy method. Thanks to her training both as a music-therapist and a composer, Koen was able to trace the ways in which “the sound bank” of and individual (collection of sound memorabilia) affects the ways he perceives life. This method was found so promising in the field of music-therapy in Europe that she was invited as a speaker to many World Music-Therapy congresses in Greece, Portugal and Austria.

Renan Koen took voice lessons from Soprano Ece Idil between 2012-2013 and has been studying with Prof. Şebnem Ünal (Soprano) ever since.

Between 1993-2009 Renan Koen conducted research on her project “Musical Interactions in World Music” with soprano Sebnem Unal which culminated in the Turkish premier of the 13 Spanish Folksongs of Federico Garcia Lorca. Between 2003-2009 the duo joined forces with other distinguished musicians to form their chamber music ensemble “Melodias Epicas” and worked together on their project called “Simultaneous Impressions”. Renan Koen has actively been involved in many projects including her curatorship (2008-2009) for the contemporary music festival Yeno Ceno organized by Galata Perform which has lately started including contemporary art in its portfolio. In addition to her chamber music  performances, Renan Koen plays as a soloist both in recitals and orchestra concerts.

In 2008, Koen released her solo piano album “Köprüler/ Bridges” with the Taxim Edition/Universal Record label. In 2014 came her second album which centers around the story of her own family. The album is composed of her own compositions inspired by authentic Sephardic folk songs of the Aegean, Middle-East, Anatolia and Synagogue hymns. In this album, Koen’s contribution extended also to playing the piano-harmonium and singing the soprano part. In this album entitled “Lost Traces, Hidden Memories” Koen which was released by
Kalan Music Productions.

This album has introduced Turkey to the world with its own colors, with Turkish Music tones and unique styles that are unique to Turkey, having survived from the Ottoman Empire, and are not found anywhere else in the world. The launch concert of the album took place in New York. Renan Koen’s 3. album was released on November 24, 2015 the same day with
installation of Theresienstadt Concentration Camp (in November 24 1941) by Kalan Müzik. This project, Holocaust Remembrance “Before Sleep”(composed of cd+dvd+booklet), documents the research conducted by Renan Koen into the life- stories, ideals and works of composers who continued to create notwithstanding the prohibitions imposed on them while being imprisoned in the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp during the Second World War. In addition to outstanding samples of their works for piano and chorus, about which information is provided in the booklet, enthusiasts can also lend an ear to real-life stories from the war and interviews with survivors’ families.

We extend our thanks and appreciation to the Quincentennial Foundation, Anadolu Kültür, the Kariyo & Ababay Foundation and Dr. Erol Hakanoğlu for their generous support. YAD VASHEM Center has included Koen’s 3rd album in their list of references and library catalog. Koen released her 4th album “Renan Koen Plays Ali Darmar ” dedicated to “My Mentor” as she calls it to her 38 years teacher Composer Ali Darmar. The album was released by Lila Muzik in January 2020. She created an educational program for youth “Positive Resistance Through Holocaust Reality” and she is continuing to teach Holocaust through music since 2016. She also created a youth action called “March of the Music” to visit and experience Terezin with young people. As a condition of this action she asks youth to create some works according to their talent or education for the outcome of this trip. As a continuation of this program. Koen promotes youth’s works around the world. She has her column “Positif Direnç (Positive Resistance)” at Salom Newspaper about Holocaust, Theresienstadt Composers, March of the Music Action and Music&Socail Action. She released her 5th album “March of the Music” by Lila Music.

This time she produced, played and sang in arch of the Music students’ musical and also published their art works, articles on their experiences from Theresienstadt trip. Pianist, composer, music therapist, soprano, and author of the Positive Resistance column for the newspaper Shalom. It performs many concerts around the world, including New York United Nations and Carnegie Hall, continues to raise awareness in the world with its concerts, speeches and extensive work with young people on the Holocaust, and paves the way for young people from all communities. With his albums released so far and his book Positive Resistance, he is in Yad Vashem, and a section was opened in his name at the Washington Library of Congress, and all his works are included in the catalog of the institution. He is the creator and current director of the Holocaust Reality and Positive Resistance education program, the March of the Music student movement, and the Positive Resistance concept and method.

Since 2016 with the Foreign Affairs of Türkiye Republic, she has performed many concerts around the world, including New York, the United Nations and Carnegie Hall, in many continents and countries such as Romania, Brazil, Spain, Germany and South Africa. She continues to raise awareness around the world with its concerts, speeches and comprehensive work with young people about the Holocaust and paves the way for young people from all societies. The albums of her has released so far and her book Positive Resistance are in Yad Vashem, and a section has been opened in her name in the Washington Library of Congress, and all her works have been included in the institution’s catalogue.

Koen gave particular importance to the Turkish Music repertoire in the Melodias Epicas music group, which he founded with soprano Şebnem Ünal in 1993, and still does. She also researches and performs religious and folk songs of other minorities living in Turkey. She continues her duties in the Turkish Jewish Community Counselor and Representatives Board, 500th Year Foundation Turkish Jewish Museum and Ulus Jewish School Boards.