Murat Usanmaz
He was born in Istanbul. In 1994 he started playing the guitar without any professional help. In 2001 he started attending the Guitar Department of the Istanbul University State Conservatory and in 2005 he graduated from Cem Kücumen’s class. Between the years 2005 and 2007 he studied soloing with the composer Rafael Andia in l’Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris. He attended mastership classes of Manuel Barrueco, David Russel, Pavel Steidl in Germany and of Costas Cotsiolis in Greece and attended summer schools for flamenco guitar organised by Emilio Maya and Miguel Angel Cortes in Spain.
On numerous occasions he performed the guitar concertos “J. Rodrigo – Aranjuez”, “A. Vivaldi – Re Major”, “F. Carulli – La Major” with various conductors and orchestras and performed the Guitar and Bandoneon Concerto of Astor Piazzolla for the first time in Turkey.
Besides, within the scope of the “International Festival of Bosphorus”, he became the first ever Turkish guitarist to perform the guitar concerto of Cemal Reşit Rey.
He gave recitals in “International Akbank Art Guitar Days”, “CRR Youth Guitar Days”, “Kadıköy Classical Festival” and in many universities.
As a guitarist he participated in various projects and concerts in China, Italy, Algeria, Germany, Turkmenistan, Finland, Aya Irini Museum, İş Sanat, Borusan, Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall, Nardis Jazz Club, Atatürk Culture Center, National Reassurance, Darphane-i Amire, Dungeons of Yedikule, Harbiye Open Air Theater.
For TRT Music he produced and hosted the music programs “Worthy of Note” and “Anonymous”.
In addition to his personal concerts, Murat Usanmaz continues performing with his eponymous “Murat Usanmaz Quintet” and “3gitarİstanbul” and writing articles on classical guitar for “Guitar Magazine”.
