| SILA ESER — Viola Soloist | |
|---|---|
| Profile Summary | An accomplished viola soloist and chamber musician with extensive international performance experience. Award-winning artist, experienced private teacher and chamber music coach. Recognized for musical sensitivity, rhythmic strength, and a brilliant tonal palette. |
| Press Highlights |
“Superb violist — Her sensitivity, rhythmic power and tonal color attest to a complete interpreter. She plays brilliantly.” — New York Times “You are gifted!” — Samuel Ashkenazi, Vermeer Quartet |
| Education |
- Royal Northern College of Music, UK — Studied with Prof. Roger Benedict (British Council Scholarship) - Istanbul University State Conservatory — Viola Studies - Northern Illinois University, USA — Performer’s Certificate, Full Scholarship; Studies with Richard Young (Vermeer Quartet) - Yale University School of Music — Doctoral Studies; Studies with Jesse Levine and the Tokyo String Quartet; Teaching Assistant in Viola & Chamber Music |
| Awards & Honors |
- First Prize, British Council String Competition (only violist to win) - Winner, Istanbul Music Festival Young Talents Series — Solo Debut - “Young Musician of the Year,” Leo-Fast Festival - Jury Award, Junior Chamber International — Ten Outstanding Young People - Finalist & Special Award, Golden Turk Awards (“Oscars of the Turks”) - Scholarships: N. Eczacıbaşı Foundation; Harry & Margaret Simeone Award (Yale) |
| Major Performances | Concert appearances at Avery Fisher Hall, Weill Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Teatro Colón, Birmingham venues and more. Solo and chamber concerts throughout Europe, America, and Asia. |
| Festivals & Tours |
- Istanbul Music Festival - Ascoli-Piceno Festival (Italy) - Marseille & Versailles Festivals (France) - Leo-Fast Festival - Norfolk Yale Chamber Music Festival - New York Viola Society (USA) - Orchestre de la Méditerranée — 30-city concert tour in France - Banff Music Festival (Canada) — Performed with multi-Grammy winner Edgar Meyer |
| Chamber Music Highlights |
- Performed Brahms viola quartets and quintets with Lawrence Dutton and David Finckel of the Emerson String Quartet - Collaborations with members of the Vermeer Quartet and other leading ensembles - First Prize at Yale Chamber Music Celebration Concerts (chosen among 30 chamber groups); standing ovation for Haydn Op.75 No.5 |
| Masterclasses | Karen Tuttle, Yuri Gandelsman, Bruno Pasquier, Kim Kashkashian, Jeffrey Irvine, Eric Shumsky, Ani Kavafian, Ruşen Güneş, Roger Bigley, Steven Dann, Roger Benedict, Claude Frank, Boris Berman, Vermeer Quartet, Tokyo String Quartet, Emerson String Quartet, among others. |
| Recording & Studio Work |
- Improvisation projects for Warner Bros.–approved cartoon/film music (Chicago) - Soundtrack recordings with Ruth Robi, student of Hans Zimmer - Studio and orchestral work with Beyoncé’s ensembles in the USA |
| Orchestral & Leadership Roles | Principal viola positions in orchestras across France, Birmingham, Chicago, Illinois, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York City. |
| Teaching Experience |
- Yale University — Teaching Assistant in Viola & Chamber Music (invited by Jesse Levine) - Opus 118 School of Music (New York) — Viola & Chamber Music Instructor - Extensive private teaching and chamber coaching experience |
| Scholarships |
- British Council Scholarship - Full Scholarship, Northern Illinois University - N. Eczacıbaşı Foundation Scholarship - Harry & Margaret Simeone Award (Yale University) |
| Instrument |
- Performs on a modern Romanian viola by Alexander Tulchinsky - Previously performed on a rare Stradivarius viola (one of only nine in the world) upon invitation from the Tokyo String Quartet |
| Additional Notes | Active internationally in both classical and contemporary music scenes. Recognized for artistic excellence and versatility. |
| Contact | (No contact details provided — I can add email/phone/website if you share them.) |