Arcan Isenkul

Viola

Arcan Isenkul was born in 2005 in Ankara. A Turkish violist based in Frankfurt, he is currently studying for a degree with Professor Tabea Zimmermann at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt.

He has won several prizes in national and international solo and chamber music competitions, including the Pirastro prize for outstanding young talent at the 6th Oskar Nedbal International Viola Competition.

In 2025, he won first prize for viola at the Ruşen Güneş competition and is giving concert series with the Hacettepe Symphony Orchestra, the Yaşar University Symphony Orchestra and the Orkestra Akademik Başkent in the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 concert seasons.

As a soloist, he has performed with the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, the Bilkent Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Ankara Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Luzerne Music Centre Orchestra, the Hacettepe Symphony Orchestra, the Aurora Chamber Orchestra and the Başkent Chamber Orchestra.

A keen chamber music player, he has taken part in renowned festivals such as the Schwetzingen Festival, Yellow Barn, Bilkent Music Days and Luzerne Music Center. He is currently a member of the Colora Quartett, which won the sponsorship prize at the 27th Société polytechnique chamber music competition. In February 2025, the quartet gave a successful performance at Frankfurt's Alte Oper, consolidating its presence on the chamber music scene.

He has taken masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Lise Berthaud, Sheila Browne, Amihai Grosz, Marion Leleu, Tatjana Masurenko, German Tcakulov and Tabea Zimmermann.

As a violist with the orchestra, he has taken part in projects such as Concertgebouworkest Young, Concertgebouworkest String Fling and Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra.

He has also performed with the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, the Bilkent Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Ankara Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Turkish Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. He is currently a member of the LGT Young Soloists, which performs all over the world, and holds a scholarship from the German Instrument Fund.

Arcan began his musical studies at Bilkent University Preparatory School of Music in 2014, under the guidance of Ece Akyol. In 2023, he graduated from Cavid Cafer's class.

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