UMD Music: Events

Pianist Huseyin Sermet was born in Istanbul in 1955. He learned music from the age of seven and in 1965, entered the Academy of Ankara. He studied with Ferhunde Erkin, Cemal Erkin and Adnan Saygun. In 1968, Huseyin Sermet received a grant of the Turkish government and continued his studies with the Higher National Academy of Music of Paris, where he received prizes in piano, musical analysis and counterpoint, and chamber music. He studied composition with Olivier Messiaen, and, at the Higher Teacher Training School of Music, with Thierry de Brunhoff.

Huseyin Sermet is the winner of many international contests, among them the International Contest of Chamber Music of Munich (1974), the prize Lili Boulanger (1974), the third prize of the International Contest of Piano Maurice Ravel (1975), the Special Prize of the SACEM (1975), the first prize of the International Contest of Piano Paloma O' Shea, in Santander (1976), the Special Prize Eduardo Casanuevo (1976), the first prize of the International Contest of Jaen, Spain (1981), the first prize of the International Contest of Piano Ettore Pozzoli of Milan (1981), the Prize Queen Elizabeth of Brussels (1983), the first prize of the Contest Francesco Paolo Neglia (1983), and the prize of the Contest Geza Anda, Zurich (1985). Lastly, he obtained in 1975 the prize Lili Boulanger of composition for his string quartet.

Huseyin Sermet has performed in major large European cities, in the United States, in Mexico, and in Japan at the most prestigious seasons and festivals (Milan, Venice, Zurich, London, Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam, Santander, Yokohama...).

Huseyin Sermet has served since 1988 as the Doctor honoris causa from the Bogazici University in Istanbul and since 1998 at the University of Marmara. In 1991, he accepted the title of Artist of the State. Parallel to his career of soloist, Huseyin Sermet continues to compose. He created "Dreams and Nightmare" in 2001 with a commission from the Symphony Orchestra of Tokyo. Currently, Huseyin Sermet works on a commission titled "Sculptures".

Weber Music Hall
7:30 p.m. · $30/$25/$15
All seats reserved. Advance purchase recommended.