Turgay Erdener - Cebeci Monologues
Johannes Brahms - Three Intermezzi, Op.117
Turkish-American pianist and harpsichordist Tolga Atalay ÜN was born in 1995, Ankara, Turkey. He is currently in his third year of undergraduate studies at the Royal College of Music, London, studying piano with Prof.Norma Fisher. He also studied the harpsichord for two years with Prof.Terence Charlston and piano with Prof.Niel Immelman. He is Kenneth and Violet Scott Scholar at the RCM. He is also generously supported by Sevda-Cenap And Music Foundation and Talent Unlimited. In September 2016, Tolga Atalay ÜN has been selected as a scholar to the ‘Young Musicians on World Stages’ (YMWS) project initiated and mentored by Güher & Süher Pekinel with financial support of TÜPRA?.
Playing as a soloist as well as conducting the Ankara Youth Symphony Orchestra in the opening concert of 33rd International Ankara Music Festival in April 2016 won him a great recognition amongst the musical authorities. He played numerous concerts in many different countries such as Turkey, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Greece and Romania. He participated in masterclasses given by renowned pianists/harpsichordists such as Ton Koopman, Janina Fialkowska, Rolf Plagge, ?dil Biret, Özgür Ayd?n, Gülsin Onay, Ian Jones, Gordon Fergus-Thompson, Andrew Zolinsky, Anton Voigt, Jia Xie, Rostislav Yovchev, David Wilde, Pawel Kaminski, Dmitar Tsanev, Jozsef Balog, Alessandro Tenaglia, Manolis Papasifakis and Krassimir Taskov. He also took conducting lessons from Turkish Conductors Orhun Orhon, ?brahim Yaz?c? and Burak Tüzün. As a result of this, he conducted numerous concerts with orchestras such as Hitit Philharmonic Orchestra (a volunteer orchestra that he formed with his friends), Hacettepe Youth Symphony Orchestra and Ankara Youth Symphony Orchestra.
In 2004, he was accepted as a member of the Polyphonic Children’s Choir of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, conducted by Ahter Destan. Between the years of 2004-2009, he participated in many concerts, tours and organisations as a choir member and accompanist. In 2007, he was offered a place to start his professional piano studies with Sibel Özgün at the Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory, where he was graduated with the “Top of the School Award” in 2014. During his seven-year conservatory education; he gave many concerts, premiered many pieces and made many radio recordings as a pianist, conductor, chamber musician and accompanist. He took lessons about Modern Music History and Contemporary Music Techniques from a famous Turkish composer ?lhan Baran between the years of 2009-2013. In May 2009, he was awarded the “honourable mention” in the Fourth International Istanbul Pera Piano Competition. In 2010, he was awarded the “Jury Special Award” in “The National Chopin Piano Competition”, which was organized jointly by Ba?kent University and Bahçelievler Rotary Club in Ankara, Turkey under the auspices of the Polish Embassy, to commemorate Chopin’s 200th birthday. After winning this prize, he got an invitation to become one of the founder members of Bahçelievler Interact Club. As an Interact, he has had the opportunity of participating in various social activities. In November 2015, he won the ‘second prize’ at the Broadwood Horniman Harpsichord Competition