Barış Büyükyıldırım
Barış Büyükyıldırım is a multifaceted musician whose career seamlessly integrates composition, solo piano, chamber music, and jazz, with a specialized focus on 20th-century and contemporary repertoire. Currently serving as an Associate Professor at the Istanbul University State Conservatory, Büyükyıldırım has established a significant international presence, performing across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Turkey. His recital credits include prestigious stages such as New York’s Steinway Hall, PianoSummer Salento and Munich, the Istanbul Music Festival, the Gümüşlük International Music Festival, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra Hall (CSO) in Ankara, and Cemal Reşit Rey (CRR) in Istanbul.
As a composer, Büyükyıldırım’s recent works reflect a deep engagement with both solo and orchestral textures. His composition 4P, written for cellist Poyraz Baltacıgil, was performed by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra. Other notable commissions include Aeolia for two pianos (commissioned by PianoSummer Munich), Teke for the Semplice Quartet, Inverso for the Gedik Philharmonic Orchestra, and Wasserreise for the Gümüşlük Music Festival. His versatility as a soloist is further evidenced by his concerto appearances, which include Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Bursa State Symphony, Ravel’s Piano Concerto with the Antalya State Symphony, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and Gershwin’s I Got Rhythm Variations with the Theater Kiel Orchestra.
Collaboration is a cornerstone of Büyükyıldırım’s professional identity. During his studies at both the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and the Manhattan School of Music (MSM), he served as a graduate accompanist, providing a foundation for his later work as a répétiteur at Cincinnati Opera, a coach at Akademi BİFO, and an instructor at the BASOTI Festival. His fluid musicality also extends into the realm of jazz, leading to collaborations with artists such as Rolando Matias and David Sanchez. Throughout his career, he has worked under the baton of distinguished conductors, including Sascha Goetzel, Richard Buckley, Jorge Parodi, Cem Mansur, and Mark Gibson.
A highly decorated artist, Büyükyıldırım is a recipient of the DAAD Award, the Sedat-Güzin Gürel Service Award, and the First Prize at the Maritim Competition. He began his formal training at the Ankara State Conservatory before continuing his studies at the Musikhochschule Lübeck under Konstanze Eickhorst and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with James Tocco.