Assoc. Prof. Sıtkı Kandemir Basmacıoğlu

Biography

Kandemir Basmacıoğlu, born in 1987, started playing piano at the age of 8 in Bishkek/Kyrgyzstan.

In 1998 he started studying at Bilkent University Faculty of Music and Performing Arts' preparatory school. At the age of 19 he got his Bachelor's degree and when he was 21, he completed the Master of Music program. Here he studied with Anna Garibian and Gülnara Aziz.

Basmacıoğlu took part in many masterclasses in countries such as Germany, Italy, Ukraine and Bulgaria; and had a chance to work with world-renowned musicians such as Michael Markov, Michael Roll, Boris Petrushansky, Konrad Elser and Oxana Yablonskaya.

In 2004, he won the “İş-Sanat Young Talents" auditions and he gave a recital in the İş-Sanat concert hall within the scope of “A Weekend with the Shining Stars” event.

In March 2006, he participated in “Cyprien Katsaris Piano Academy” in Weimar, Germany, which was held at Franz Liszt’s house. Here, after his performance of the composer's B minor sonata, Germany’s Thüringische Landeszeitung wrote the following: “While his fingers were flying above the keys between the soft and powerful melodies, with his self-confidence, Kandemir Basmacıoğlu promised a bright future.” Cyprien Katsaris mentioned Basmacıoğlu with following words: “..his keyboard sovereignty and remarkable musicianship are particularly impressive. His gift of combining his personal ideas with those of the composers he performs, make him a marvelous pianist, and I have the fullest confidence in his future”.

In 2008 he got accepted to Hochschule für Musik Köln/Germany and to be able to continue his studies there, he was granted with the DAAD scholarship. In 2009 he obtained the Borusan scholarship and in 2011 played with the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Gürer Aykal as a soloist.

In 2014 he gave a recital during the "15. International Antalya Piano Festival". In February 2020 he was one the five pianists that took part in a concert at Philharmonie Berlin for the 250^th birthyear of Beethoven.

Basmacıoğlu finished his studies in Germany with Vassily Lobanov at Hochschule für Musik Köln. In 2015 he got his Proficiency in Music degree at Anadolu University.

Kandemir Basmacıoğlu obtained his Associate Professor title in February 2017 and currently continues his academic work at Istanbul Technical University State Conservatory.