Utar Artun

Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 5:30pm
Wakefield Library
345 Main Street
Wakefield, MA, 01880

Percussionist, composer, conductor, and pianist Utar Artun, a native of Turkey, has performed with Kevin Eubanks and many other top artists. He was a finalist in ASCAP's Morton Gould Young Composers Competition (2010) and Young Jazz Composers Competition (2011). 

Artun studied classical percussion at Hacettepe University, Ankara State Conservatory. He arranged many movie soundtracks and other compositions for symphony orchestra, and the Bursa Regional Symphony Orchestra performed his arrangements in several live concerts. In addition, Artun has performed at several major music festivals and was was pianist, arranger, and composer for Betone Quartet.

Artun has composed and arranged more than 30 pieces for symphony orchestra, as well as more than 50 pieces for brass bands and big bands. Featured on various studio albums as a piano player, arranger, and drummer, Artun recently won the 18th Halici MIDI Competition and cowrote the arrangement for "Bizim Eller ne guzel eller," a Rhythm of the Universe song that has been broadcast around the world, including more than 100,000 views on Youtube.

Admission: Free