Biography
The Turkish classical guitarist Mesut Ozgen has drawn worldwide notice for his virtuosic performances. He became the first guitarist awarded the Dean's Prize, Yale School of Music's highest honorary distinction, and was selected to appear as soloist at major events such as the International Paco Pena Guitar Festival held in Cordoba, Spain, during 1989 and 1990. In 1995 he was asked to give the world premiere of Robert Beaser's "Shenandoah" at the Yale Guitar Competition, and two years afterward he earned first place at the Portland Guitar Competition.
Ozgen first took up the guitar while enrolled as a pre-med student at the School of Medicine. After earning his medical degree in 1984 he practiced medicine for seven years, yet his interest in music persisted. Between 1987 and 1991 he taught guitar at both Hacettepe University and the School of Music at Gazi University before relocating to the United States to work with Benjamin Verdery at Yale University's School of Music, where he completed a master's degree in music in 1993 and an artist diploma the next year.
While pursuing a D.M.A. at Arizona State University, with an anticipated completion date of 2002, Ozgen served as teaching assistant to Professor Frank Koonce from 1994 to 1998 and received the Dean's Council Scholarship there in 1997. Since 1998 he has held a position on the guitar faculty at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Ozgen first took up the guitar while enrolled as a pre-med student at the School of Medicine. After earning his medical degree in 1984 he practiced medicine for seven years, yet his interest in music persisted. Between 1987 and 1991 he taught guitar at both Hacettepe University and the School of Music at Gazi University before relocating to the United States to work with Benjamin Verdery at Yale University's School of Music, where he completed a master's degree in music in 1993 and an artist diploma the next year.
While pursuing a D.M.A. at Arizona State University, with an anticipated completion date of 2002, Ozgen served as teaching assistant to Professor Frank Koonce from 1994 to 1998 and received the Dean's Council Scholarship there in 1997. Since 1998 he has held a position on the guitar faculty at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Albums