Evren Ozel ’21, ’23 MM, ’25 AD takes Second Prize at the Cleveland International Piano Competition

Alumnus and pianist Evren Ozel ’21, ’23 MM, ’25 AD recently took home second prize at the Cleveland International Piano Competition! In addition to his second prize win, Evren was also awarded the competition's Baroque Prize for best performance of a Baroque composition.

Evren performs throughout the United States and abroad, at renowned venues such as The Gilmore’s Wellspring Theater and Harvard Musical Association. He received a 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant and a 2022 Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant and is currently represented by Concert Artists Guild. Evren has been a featured soloist with The Cleveland Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, and The Orchestra Now at Bard College with conductors Jahja Ling, Courtney Lewis, and Leon Botstein.

Evren received his Bachelor of Music in 2021 and his Master of Music in 2023, both in Piano Performance, from NEC. He is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma in Piano Performance under the tutelage of his long term mentor, Wha Kyung Byun '74 MM.

Congratulations, Evren!