Fine Arts Department
Oğuz Usman is a composer, music producer, and academic based in Istanbul. His creative and scholarly work bridges the gap between traditional forms and contemporary sonic exploration.
He studied composition with Michael Jarrell at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, graduating in 2009 with a Master of Arts degree. During his tenure in Vienna, he participated in specialized courses and workshops led by prominent figures of contemporary music, including Brian Ferneyhough, Wolfgang Rihm, Matthias Pintscher, Hans Zender, Fred Lerdahl, and Marco Stroppa. He later earned his Proficiency in Art degree in composition from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in Istanbul under the supervision of Hasan Uçarsu.
Usman’s compositions have been performed by distinguished conductors and leading ensembles across Europe and Asia, such as Ensemble Kontrapunkte, Ensemble XX. Jahrhundert, PHACE Contemporary Music, Ensemble Reconsil, Hezarfen Ensemble, and the Izmir State Symphony Orchestra. His works have been featured at international festivals, including Wien Modern, Heidelberger Frühling, GuitarPlus Microtonal Würzburg, and the Izmir International Music Festival.
In addition to his compositional practice, Usman is an active researcher in music theory and musicology. His academic interests encompass a broad historical spectrum, ranging from Renaissance counterpoint to advanced contemporary practices. His recent research focuses on the intersection of computer music and the conceptualization of space as a primary compositional element, specifically exploring the phenomenological and technical aspects of immersive sound environments and the evolution of spatial aesthetics in contemporary electroacoustic music.
