Burak Özdemir

Burak Özdemir was born in Istanbul. He started his music studies at the age of ten at Istanbul Conservatory on both bassoon and piano majors. He received his master’s degree from the University of Arts-Berlin (UdK- Berlin). He graduated from the Juilliard School’s prestigious Artist Diploma in Performance Program, honored as the first bassoonist being selected to the program in history. He is the founder and artistic director of Juilliard- based baroque ensemble Musica Sequenza, performing music ranging from Renaissance to Classical era on both period and modern instruments. Özdemir has appeared as a soloist with the Juilliard Symphony, Istanbul Philharmonic, Berliner Kammer Orchester and Französischer Dom Orchester. His recital credits include Peter J Sharp Theater, Alice Tully Hall, Is- Bank Istanbul and Schloss Glienicke.
 
Özdemir has collaborated with William Christie & Les Arts Florissants, Nicholas McGegan, Fazil Say, Monica Hugget, Nadja Zwiener and many others. Included among his previous musical affiliations are posts with the Istanbul State Opera and Netherlands Symphony Orchestra. He also performs frequently as a soloist and chamber musician worldwide. Among his recent prizes are Turkey Young Talents 1st Prize (2005), Istanbul Jazz Festival Young Artists 1st Prize (2006) and The Juilliard Concerto Competition 1st Prize (2010).
 
In addition to performing, Özdemir is also an avid electro-acoustic music composer, writing music for acoustic ensembles, dance, stage, film, interactive computer systems and mixed media. His first opera production “Fuga - The Electro-Baroque Opera” had its world premiere performance at Baruch Black Box Theater NYC in 2010.
 
Özdemir holds honorary fellowships as a composer and performer in DAAD Berlin, Gustav Kettel Stiftung, Paul Hindemith Gesellschaft, American Turkish Society, SYLFF, Asim Kocabiyik Foundation, Borusan Culture, Dance Theater Workshop, Jerome Lewis Scholarship, Ahmet Ertegun Scholarship and Tokyo Foundation.

Reference: baliunalp.com