Described as “the most sensitive duo pianist” by Andante, Turkey’s leading classical music magazine, Çağdaş Özkan has a vast repertoire and experience in both vocal and instrumental accompaniment. In 2012, he completed his Master’s degree at The Juilliard School, one of the most prestigious music schools in the United States. For his studies at Juilliard, he received the “Borusan Music Scholarship” and the “Ahmet Ertegün Scholarship” provided by the American Turkish Society. During his education in the USA, he performed as a chamber musician, duo, and orchestral pianist in numerous concert halls, including Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall.

            At The Juilliard School, he had the opportunity to work closely and perform with esteemed professors and their students, such as Naoko Tanaka (violin), Ron Copes (violin), Darrett Adkins (cello), and Robert Jr. White (voice). Çağdaş Özkan studied piano accompaniment with Jonathan Feldman, Margo Garrett, and Brian Zeger, and solo piano with Prof. Ersin Onay and Zarema Safarova. He also gained significant experience in French diction and vocal repertoire with Tom Grubb, German diction and vocal repertoire with JJ. Penna, and Italian diction with Corradina Caporello.

            In 2010, he participated in the Aspen Music Festival and in 2011 in the Music Academy of the West, establishing relationships with many musicians from different parts of the USA and the world. He graduated from Bilkent University in 2007 with a degree in solo piano and performed Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto under the baton of Işın Metin in 2009. Additionally, he had the opportunity to work in accompaniment with Milos Repicky, Diane Richardson, Rita Sloan, Cameron Stowe, and in solo piano with Hüseyin Sermet, Boris Bloch, and Marcella Crudeli.

            Having been introduced to music at an early age with the accordion, Çağdaş Özkan continues this passion and includes many popular and folk music pieces, including his own arrangements, in his repertoire. Çağdaş Özkan currently works as a lecturer at Bursa Uludağ University and Eskişehir Anadolu University State Conservatories.