About
Ozel played to his strengths: exquisite pianissimi, pearly sound, and gorgeous phrasing resulting in moments of pure inspiration. – La Scena Musicale
American pianist Evren Ozel has been described as “an absolute wow” (Third Coast Review) and “an artist capable of lifting everyone to another level” (LaScena Musicale), praised for his blend of technical mastery and compelling artistry. He is the Bronze Medalist of the 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (2025), where he also received the special prize for the Best Performance of a Mozart Concerto.
Ozel has performed extensively throughout the United States and internationally, and is the recipient of a 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant and a 2022 Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant. He is currently represented by Concert Artists Guild as an Ambassador Prize Winner of the 2021 Victor Elmaleh Competition.
Since making his orchestral debut with the Minnesota Orchestra at age 11, Ozel has appeared as soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and Jacksonville Symphony, performing under conductors such as Marin Alsop, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Jahja Ling, and Ruth Reinhardt. His debut album—Mozart concertos recorded with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and conductor Howard Griffiths—was released in 2025 on Alpha Classics.
Highlights of Ozel’s 2025–26 season include solo recitals for Portland Piano International, the Chopin Society of Minnesota, and Chamber Music Detroit. He has previously performed for the Harvard Musical Association, La Jolla Music Society, Cal Performances, and The Gilmore. A laureate of both the Cleveland International Piano Competition and the Dublin International Piano Competition, Ozel gave a recital at Salle Cortot (Paris) during the 2024–25 season as part of a series of international performances resulting from the Cleveland Competition, and will continue with appearances at Brandenburgische Sommerkonzerte (Germany) and the Vilnius Piano Festival (Lithuania).
A committed chamber musician, Ozel collaborates with artists including David Finckel and Wu Han, Stella Chen, Zlatomir Fung, Paul Huang, Kim Kashkashian, Daniel Phillips, and Marcy Rosen. He spent four summers at the Marlboro Music Festival, and is currently a 2024–27 Bowers Program Artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, with upcoming appearances at Alice Tully Hall. He will also perform in 2025–26 for the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society.
Ozel resides in Boston and holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Artist Diploma degrees from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Wha Kyung Byun. His other important mentors include Jonathan Biss, Imogen Cooper, Richard Goode, András Schiff, and Mitsuko Uchida.
