Biography

Emir Gamsızoğlu was born in Istanbul

Istanbul

Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...

, Turkey

Turkey

Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

. He was a professional basketball player in Turkish Leagues in his university years; however, an accident he had in a game ended his basketball career. His musical talent discovered after this accident by his mother Oya Ölçen, he began studying with Prof. Ova Sünder in 1994 and was admitted to Istanbul University State Conservatory the next year. In 1999, he was awarded the "Young Musician of the Year" by the Lions Club. After his graduation, he continued his studies with Seba Baştuğ Şen and Hüseyin Sermet. He began his master degree in The City College of New York in 2009.

He is also known for his radio program "Notada Yazmayanlar (Unwritten on the Scores)" with Memet Ali Alabora

Memet Ali Alabora

Memet Ali Alabora is a Turkish film and theatre actor. He is the son of actors Mustafa Alabora and Betül Arım.-Biography:...

, which went on in the years 2001-2003. The purpose of the program was to introduce classical music to public and to discuss the upcomings in the classical music world. The program was invited to 32nd International Istanbul Music Festival in June 2004. Gamsızoğlu himself was also invited to 33rd International Istanbul Music Festival. In May 2008, he performed Goldberg Variations

Goldberg Variations

The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, is a work for harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. First published in 1741, the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form...

. This performance was the first of Goldberg Variations in Turkey.

Currently a resident of 86th Street (Manhattan)

86th Street (Manhattan)

86th Street is a major two-way street in the Upper East Side and Upper West Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan.On the West Side its continuous cliff-wall of apartment blocks includng The Belnord is broken by two contrasting landmarked churches at prominent corner sites, the Tuscan...

, he is studying for a Master's Degree Piano Performance at City College, while his wife is a Fulbright Scholar studying acting.