Draft:Mursel Yavuz

Energetic, elegant and multicultural distinguishes Mursel Yavuz as a conductor and composer. Turkish- American maestro was born in Turkey. He has left a lasting and positive impact on the communities where he has shared his remarkable talents. Yavuz embarked on his musical journey from an early age, studying percussion, cello, bağlama, piano, and voice. His passion for composition led him to Dokuz Eylul University State Conservatory, where he studied with Professor Istemihan Taviloglu.

In 2007, Mursel Yavuz continued to refine his craft by pursuing a master’s degree in orchestral conducting at the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University State Conservatory in Istanbul, under the guidance of Professor Gürer Aykal. He worked as the music director for the conservatory’s Youth Orchestras and Choir. Also, he was chosen as the assistant conductor to Gürer Aykal with the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra. Yavuz’s passion for music led him to explore opportunities around the world, broadening his expertise through various master classes with conductors such as world famaous Gustav Meier, Murry Sidlin, Martyn Brabbins, David Effron, Arthur Fagen Mark Stringer, Harold Farberman, and Johannes Schlaefli. He traveled to the United States, Italy, Russia, Bulgaria, Germany, and Scotland, enriching his conducting skills and techniques.

In the summer of 2006, Yavuz received a full scholarship to study conducting at the prestigious Accademia Musicale Chigiana. Subsequently, in 2010, he was awarded another full scholarship by the Borusan Center for Culture and Arts to study with Thomas Baldner and Robert Porco at Indiana University in Bloomington. Mr. Yavuz received a Professional Performance Certificate and a second master’s degree in orchestral conducting from Penn State University in May 2013. During his studies there, Mr. Yavuz became the Music Director and Conductor of the Campus Orchestra at PSU and served as an Assistant Conductor to Gerardo Edelstein for the Penn State Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras. Yavuz also spent time in Milan, Italy, focusing on Italian operas and studying with Daniele Agiman and Vittorio Parisi at the Conservatorio Musica di Giuseppe Verdi. In 2017, he was invited to be the Music Director and Conductor for Handel’s Serse opera in Arezzo, Italy. From 2017 to 2019, he lived in Milan and collaborated with various groups of musicians, artists, and singers. Yavuz became such an expertise in Italian Opera condcuting and received high recognition from Italian audience and press.

Yavuz has conducted reknown orchestras worldwide, including the North Czech Philharmonic Teplice, Symphonic Orchestra of State Opera-Rousse in Bulgaria, St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic, Concerto Barocco Chamber Orchestra of Izmir, Bursa State Symphony Orchestra, Samsun State Opera and Ballet, and the Penn State University Philharmonic Orchestra.

A notable highlight of his career was working with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Orkney Conducting Masterclass. Yavuz continues his musical journey as a professional conductor at the Samsun State Opera and Ballet in Turkey, a position he has held since 2020. He is now pursuing his doctoral studies in orchestral conducting at the UH Moores School of Music under the guidance of Professor Franz Krager.

Conducting Experience

Since 2020 Samsun State Opera and Ballet

2017-2019 The Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi

2016 North Czech Philarmonic Orchestra

2013 BBC Symphony Orchestra (Conducting Masterclass)

2011 - 2013 Penn State Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras

2011 – 2013 Penn State University, Campus Orchestra

2012 Symphonic Orchestra of Rouse State Opera, Bulgaria

2011 Summer The Conductors Institute Orchestra, Bard College

2009 - 2010 Conductors Orchestra, Indiana University

2009 Concerto Barocco Chamber Orchestra of Izmir, Turkey

2009 Bursa State Symphony Orchestra, Turkey

2009 Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University State Conservatory “Youth Orchestra and Choir"

Compositions

 Orchestral compositions 

Two Symphonic Suite from the life (Bees, Unwanted War)

Unwanted War *(Premiered in 2012 by Campus Orchestra, conducted by Mursel Yavuz)

Journey (Symphonic Poem for Orchestra) 2013

Three pieces for orchestra and soprano (Love is the foundation of life, Is the World going to be Lost? Light in us) 2018

Symphony no. 1 2004*

 Composition for Piano (2003- 2006) 

Six Piano pieces for Youth

Six Preludes for Piano*

Lament to Istemihan Taviloglu*

Silent Scream

Piano Sonata

Fantasy

Twelve short free tone pieces

 Trio 

Muhabbet (Conversation: Three pieces composed for two clarinets and bassoons)*

Esin (composed for Flute, clarinet and guitar)*

Ferdi’s Dream (two movements, composed for solo guitar)*


 * Performed in public