Hochschule für Musik FRANZ LISZT Weimar – Germany

Born in 2003 in Izmir, Emir Ilgen completed his pre-university education at MSGSU Istanbul State Conservatory, Piano Department in Zeynep Yamantürk’s class and gave many recitals in Turkey and abroad during his pre-university education. Having a wide repertoire at a young age, Emir played piano concertos, including works by Haydn, Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, and Saint-Saens with the Izmir State Symphony, Turkish Youth Philharmonic, Rostov Philharmonic, Antalya State Symphony, Istanbul State Symphony, and Presidential Symphony Orchestras and had the opportunity to work with conductors, including Gürer Aykal, Cem Mansur, Can Okan and Tassos Simeonidis.

During his primary education, he received various awards in the competitions he participated in, including the 1st prize in the 15-19 age category in the “Young Talent International Piano Competition” at the 19th Antalya Piano Festival under the jury of Conductor Gürer Aykal, 1st prize in the Faruk Erengül National Piano Competition organized by the Istanbul Philharmonic Association on March 4-9, 2019 under the jury of İdil Biret, 1st prize in the Faruk Erengül National Piano Competition, EPTA 2018 (European Piano Teachers Association), “International Young Pianist Piano Competition” held in Belgium on February 20-25, 2018 and 2nd prize as “Prize Winner” in the 2nd category.

As a speaker of Paragon Talks’19, where young talents under 25 are invited as speakers, he gave a speech at Boğaziçi University Albert Long Hall, and also gave a piano recital.

Since 2015, he has been studying with the famous pedagogue and teacher Prof. Diane Andersen in Belgium. He has had the opportunity to work with many famous pianists and Professors such as Alan Weiss, Konstantin Scherbakov, Felix Gottlieb, Gerald Fauth, Elena Margolina Hait in the masterclasses he has attended so far. During his time in Turkey, composer Ali Darmar and Pianist Ayşegül Sarıca regularly listened to him and supported him in his concerts and contest preparations.

As of October 2021, he continues his university education at the “Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar” in Germany with Prof. Christian Wilm Müller. In his first year in Germany, he performed Beethoven’s Op.19, 2nd Piano Concerto, took part in the staging of Luciano Berio’s Recital for Cathy with DNT (Deutsches Nationaltheater und Staatskapelle), the work was staged 3 times, and he had the opportunity to work with professional artists in the first year of his education in Germany. In addition, he takes part in concerts with the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra at the Saint Seans Animals carnival, the Külturhause recital in Stuttgart-Murrhardt, Germany, and the Weimar Franz Liszt House and his piano in order to further enhance his studies.

Emir İlgen is supported by “Young Musicians on World Stages” scholarship under the guidance of Güher & Süher Pekinel. He also has the scholarship of “Riebesamstiftung Murhardt” in Germany.