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Acclaimed for his musicality and virtuosity, Volkan Orhon has established
himself as one of the top double bassists in the world today. He was a
finalist and prizewinner in the Concert Artists Guild Solo Competition in New York City, and was the co-first place winner of the International
Society of Bassists Solo Competition. Additionally, he distinguished himself
as the first double bass player ever to win the grand prize overall and
first prize for double bass at the American String Teacher's Association Solo Competition.
Mr. Orhon has performed with internationally recognized musicians including Gary Karr, Fazil Say, and the Emerson String Quartet, and has been a soloist
with the Adana and Bursa State Symphony Orchestras (Turkey), the El Paso,
Cedar Rapids, and Hartford Symphony Orchestras, The Connecticut Orchestra,
Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, and New Britain Symphony. He was one of the performers for the international consortium of Pulitzer Winner composer John Harbison’s Concerto for Bass Viol and Orchestra. He was
recently a featured soloist at the Polish World Bass Festival, performing
the Bottesini Concerto No. 2 with the Academy Orchestra under the direction
of Franco Petracchi. An avid chamber musician, Orhon has been a guest
with the Roycroft Chamber Music Festival (NY), the Saint Vincent College
Chamber Music Series (PA), and the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music. He
has also performed at prestigious festivals including the Montreux, Saint
Denis-Paris, Antibes, Montpellier, Istanbul, and Izmir jazz festivals.
As an orchestra musician, performed with the Detroit Symphony, Hartford
Symphony and Connecticut Opera Orchestra.
As a pedagogue, Mr. Orhon has been an invited clinician to workshops
across the U.S. and abroad, including conferences for the Suzuki Association
of the Americas and the International Society of Bassists. He has given
recitals and master classes at institutions including the Bursa State
Conservatory and Eskisehir Anatolian University (Turkey), Arizona State
University, University of Michigan, Butler University, Northwestern
University and North Carolina School of the Arts. He has served on the faculties of the University of Connecticut, Central Connecticut State University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, The Hartt School Community Division of the University of Hartford, Kinhaven
Music School (VT) and Summer Strings Music Festival in Pocatello, Idaho.
Born and raised in Turkey, Mr. Orhon began playing the double bass at
the age of 12, and spent much of his youth touring Europe with the Mediterranean
Youth Soloists. After receiving his bachelor's degree from the Ankara
State Conservatory under the tutelage of Tahir Sumer, he became a member
of the Ankara Presidential Symphony Orchestra. In 1991, Mr. Orhon came
to the United States to continue his studies with Gary Karr at The Hartt
School of Music, where he earned an Artist Diploma and Master of Music.
Mr. Orhon is currently the assistant professor of double bass at The
University of Iowa and principal double bass in the Cedar Rapids Symphony
Orchestra. He is a D'Addario Diamond Performing Artist.
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