COMPOSER
THE CONVERGENCE OF TRADITIONAL AND NATIONAL TEXTURES WITH CONTEMPORARY SYMPHONIC ARCHITECTURE.
Known for his work in opera and choral music, Özcan reinterprets historical figures and the cultural heritage of Anatolia through a contemporary musical language. Particularly drawn to large-scale, dramatically powerful vocal-stage works, the composer employs an approach that places the human voice at the center of the narrative, constructing leitmotif-based textures and character-driven musical structures. Rather than directly quoting folk music elements, Özcan develops an original musical language inspired by their formal and conceptual characteristics. Among his prominent works are Elegy for Atatürk, Yunus Emre Cantata, and Aşık Veysel Stage Cantata, while his work on the two-act opera Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım continues.
CONDUCTOR
A SHARP, DECISIVE BATON TECHNIQUE
Beginning his musical journey at the age of seven with piano training, Özcan graduated from the Opera Department of Istanbul University State Conservatory and the Composition and Orchestral Conducting Department of Hacettepe University State Conservatory. He began his orchestral conducting training within the lineage of Prof. Rengim Gökmen’s school and studied conducting techniques with Volker Hempfling, Sabine Horstmann, Markus Baisch, Vladimir Ponkin, and Tulio Gagliardo. Starting his professional career at the Duluth Opera Festival in the USA, Özcan has conducted the orchestras of the Samsun, Mersin, Antalya, and İzmir State Opera and Ballet, as well as the CRR Symphony and İzmir KODA Orchestras. He has conducted all the choirs within the State Opera and Ballet and held various administrative positions within the institution.
FOUNDER
OPERA STUDYO
Embracing a profound historical responsibility, Orhan Öner Özcan is the legal rights holder who enabled the re-establishment of the Republican-era’s Opera Studyo after nearly seventy-year hiatus. As the founder of this entirely voluntary initiative, he envisioned a unique platform dedicated to granting young talents vital stage experience before they enter the professional music world. Under his vision, the studio operates as a vibrant ’boutique opera’ atmosphere—empowering conservatory students through masterclasses, a dedicated chamber choir, and an orchestra, while seamlessly bridging the gap between the opera stars of tomorrow and art enthusiasts.
