Cihan Yücel

Cihan Yücel has performed hundreds of solo and chamber music concerts in the US, Europe, and his native Turkey - including a solo recital broadcasted on the Turkish National Radio, and a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Presidential Symphony Orchestra. Born in Ankara Cihan began his piano studies at the age of six. In 1998, he entered Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory to study with Menekşe Akar. In 2009 Cihan came to the United States for his Master’s degree, studying with Paul Rutman and Anne Koscielny at The Hartt School of Music. His leaning towards chamber music during his Master’s and Artist Diploma studies at the Hartt School brought success to him and his chamber music groups. Vagus Trio, one of his chamber music groups, became the State Winner and National Finalist in the Music Teachers National Association Competition in 2011. His long term mentors were composer İlhan Baran, pianists Eric Trudel, Louis de Moura Castro, and David Westfall. Currently Cihan is in the Hartt School’s honors chamber music program, Performance 20/20, and pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree with Paul Rutman.