Evren Ozel, Pianist

American pianist Evren Ozel has been praised as “an absolute wow” (Third Coast Review) and “an artist capable of lifting everyone to another level” (La Scena Musicale) for his blend of technical mastery and expressive artistry. He is the Bronze Medalist and Mozart Concerto Prize winner of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and a recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant. 

Since making his debut with the Minnesota Orchestra at age 11, Ozel has appeared with the Cleveland Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony, and Jacksonville Symphony, performing under conductors including Marin Alsop, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Hugh Wolff, and Ruth Reinhardt. His debut recording—Mozart concertos with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and Howard Griffiths—was released in 2025 on Alpha Classics. 

Ozel’s performances include recitals for Portland Piano International, the Chopin Society of Minnesota, and Chamber Music Detroit, alongside appearances at Brandenburgische Sommerkonzerte (Germany) and the Vilnius Piano Festival (Lithuania). A Bowers Program Artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (2024–27), he collaborates with musicians such as David Finckel and Wu Han, Stella Chen, and Kim Kashkashian. 

Ozel earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Artist Diploma from the New England Conservatory under Wha Kyung Byun, and has worked closely with Jonathan Biss, Imogen Cooper, Richard Goode, András Schiff, and Mitsuko Uchida. He resides in Boston.