USTA, Özge Gülbey

Özge Usta was born in Izmir, Turkey. After graduating from Izmir Anatolian Fine Arts High School, she received a full scholarship from Bilkent University. During her studies at Bilkent University she was on the high honours list. She studied composition with Elhan Bakihanov, harmony with Zarife Bakihanova, music history with Naile Mehtiyeva, score reading and playing with Alfred Michourine, choral conducting with Elena Puskova, fugue-counterpoint with Bujor Hoinic and orchestral conducting with Hakan Kalkan. She took part ın a musical formation seminar with Professor Odette Gartenlaube at Bilkent University. She received her master’s degree in the field of composition and orchestral conducting from Dokuz Eylul University Conservatory. She received her doctoral degree in audio design-composition from the Institute of Social Sciences of Ege University.

In 2006, Ms. Usta won the second Leon Biriotti International Composition Competition with one of her chamber music compositions entitled Tres Referencias Al Musica. Her compositions have been performed in Germany, South America, Belgium, Sweden and Turkey. On their first tour of eastern Turkey, the İzmir State Opera and Ballet Company chose to play a program comprised entirely of pieces which she composed and arranged. She has also prepared and directed the annual New Year’s concert for the Bodrum Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Usta continues to work as a composer and orchestral conductor of the Usta Nefesler Chamber Music Group and the Usta Tınılar Chamber Music Orchestra.