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Composer Performer

 

Mehmet Ali Sanlikol is a Turkish-American composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born in 1974 in Bursa, Turkey, Sanlikol grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to music from a young age. His father was a composer and conductor, and his mother was a singer. Sanlikol began playing the piano at the age of four and later learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. Sanlikol's early musical education was rooted in Turkish classical music, which he studied with his father. He also studied Western classical music and jazz, which he learned from his teachers at the Istanbul State Conservatory and the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he earned a degree in jazz composition. Sanlikol's music is a fusion of Turkish and Western classical music, jazz, and other genres. He has composed works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments, as well as vocal music and film scores. His music is characterized by its use of Turkish modes and rhythms, as well as its incorporation of improvisation and other elements of jazz. One of Sanlikol's most notable works is his oratorio "Othello in the Seraglio," which premiered in 2015. The piece is a reimagining of Shakespeare's "Othello" set in the Ottoman Empire, and it combines elements of Turkish classical music, Western classical music, and jazz. The oratorio features a large ensemble of musicians, including a choir, soloists, and an orchestra, and it has been performed in venues around the world. Sanlikol has also composed several works for the Boston-based chamber ensemble Dünya, which he founded in 1998. The ensemble specializes in Turkish classical music and has performed Sanlikol's compositions as well as traditional Turkish music. Sanlikol has also collaborated with other musicians and ensembles, including the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Kronos Quartet, and the Silk Road Ensemble. In addition to his work as a composer, Sanlikol is also an ethnomusicologist and has written extensively about Turkish music and culture. He has taught at several universities, including the New England Conservatory of Music and the Berklee College of Music, and he is currently a professor of music at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Sanlikol's contributions to the world of classical music have been recognized with several awards and honors. In 2018, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, which is one of the most prestigious awards in the arts. He has also received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Turkish Cultural Foundation, among others. Sanlikol's music is a testament to the power of cross-cultural collaboration and the ability of music to transcend boundaries. His fusion of Turkish and Western classical music, jazz, and other genres has created a unique and innovative sound that has captivated audiences around the world. As he continues to compose and perform, Sanlikol is sure to leave a lasting impact on the world of classical music.

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