Oğuzhan Balcı


Oğuzhan Balcı is a Turkish composer and conductor and a professor at Istanbul Technical University.

Biography

He was born in Istanbul. He started taking music lessons in 6 years old from Cenan Akın at TRT Istanbul Child Choir and then continued as a chorist at Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Youth Choir.
In 1988, he enrolled in Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music State Conservatory at the violin department and he became pupil of Ayhan Turan. In 1994, he enrolled in composition department of the same university. He studied Turkish maqam music with Yavuz Özüstün, harmony and counterpoint with Nail Yavuzoğlu, Turkish music structure with Mutlu Torun, conducting and piano with Demirhan Altuğ. After the university education, he started to study a master programme in MIAM and during a year studied composition and music theory with Kamran Ince, David Osbon and Pieter Snapper. Then, he graduated from master programme in Haliç University Turkish Music Programme.
His compositions and arrangements are performed by CSO, CRR Istanbul Symphony Orchestra, Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, İzmir State Symphony Orchestra, Bursa Regional State Symphony Orchestra, Çukurova State Symphony Orchestra, Hungarian National Radio Orchestra, Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, Borusan Quartet, Nemeth Quartet.
In June 2006, violinist Hakan Şensoy played as a world premier of Balci's composition which name "Variations on a theme of Aleaddin Sensoy" at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Selected works

For symphonic orchestra

Concertos

  1. Ninni
  2. Heybeliada
  3. Tetova' da Pazar Yeri

For string orchestra

  • Büyüsüz Sözcük
  • Balat' ta Bir Gölge
  • Fırtına

For string orchestra and clarinet

  • Tanımadığım Ruhlara

For symphonic orchestra and kanun

  • Istanbul Hatırası

For string quartet

  • Quartet no. 1
  1. Tanışma
  2. Sığınak
  3. Deli Dalga