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. Volkan has performed with internationally recognized musicians including Gary Karr, Fazil Say, the Emerson and Tokyo string quartets, and has performed recitals and as soloist with orchestras around the world including the Bursa State Conservatory and Eskisehir Anatolian University (Turkey), Paris Conservatory, Norwegian Academy of Music, Arizona State University, University of Michigan, Butler University, Northwestern University and North Carolina School of the Arts. As an orchestra musician, he served as principal bass in the Orchestra Iowa and performed with the Detroit Symphony, Hartford Symphony and Connecticut Opera Orchestra. Volkan has recorded CDs under the Albany, Centaur, and Crystal Records labels. Most recently he recorded the Double Bass Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, a work written for him by composer David Gompper. This recording will be released under the Naxos label in 2020. As a pedagogue, Volkan has been an invited clinician to workshops across the United States and abroad, including European double bass conferences Bass2018 LUCCA, Bass Bass2010 Berlin, Bass2008 Paris, Ouro Branco Festival in Brazil, Suzuki Association of the Americas, American String Teachers Association and the International Society of Bassists. Born and raised in Turkey, he spent much of his youth touring Europe. After graduating from the Ankara State Conservatory under the tutelage of Tahir Sumer, he became a member of the Ankara Presidential Symphony Orchestra. Volkan came to the United States to continue his studies with Gary Karr. He is currently professor of double bass at the University of Iowa and has performed at the SLLMF since 2012.
[2019]