Born in 1997 in Adana. He started his piano education at the age of 6 with Can Çoker and continued his studies with Can Çoker between 2005-2010. Between 2010-2015 he studied at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University State Conservatory with Metin Ülkü. In 2015 he passed all the exams at Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien successfully and started to study with Roland Krüger and has been continuing his studies ever since.
In 2012 he was summoned by Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts to play in a two-piano concert with Gülsin Onay at the foundation’s festival. He was summoned by Antalya Piano Festival in the same year. In 2018 he was summoned by Antalya Piano Festival again and at Gürer Aykal’s request he premiered his first Piano Sonata at the festival. He was summoned by Sofia Music Festival, where his recital was broadcasted by the national radio. He was awarded with cultural success award in 2020 by Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World. Between 2019-2022 6 of his albums and 3 of his singles were released. Besides his piano performing career, he has got more than 90 released works in 28 opus numbers.
He has attended masterclasses of Stephen Kovachevich, Johan Schmidt, Diana Anderson, Peter Florian, Junn Kanno, Fazıl Say, Gülsin Onay, Andrea Luccesini, Emre Şen and Ludmil Angelov.
Competition Awards:
*2010 – 5th International Pera Piano Competition 2nd prize
*2010 – Başkent University National Chopin Piano Competition 2nd prize
*2011 – 6th International Pera Piano Competition 3rd prize and best Chopin interpretation prize
*2011 – F. Chopin Competition held in Jelenia Gora/Poland – finalist
*2012 – 1st Ahmet Adnan Saygun Piano Competition in Gümüşlük/Muğla/Turkey 1st prize
*2012 – Delfhi Games Piano Competition in Astana bronze medal
*2013 – Maria Herrero Piano Competition 3rd prize
*2014 – Chopin Piano Comeptition in Narva/Estonia finalist and most original interpretation prize
*2014 – International Young Musicians Piano Competition in Enschede/The Netherlands best contemporary music interpretation prize
*2015 – Vedat Kosal Piano Competition in Istanbul 2nd prize
*2015 – Malta Piano Competition 3rd prize and jury’s special award
Released Projects
2019 – Tragic Lieds, Ayşe Ece Güneşşen & Cem Esen (Album)
2020 – Evening Sun Lieds, Alp Utku & Cem Esen (Album)
2020 – Cem Esen: Flute Sonata no. op.14, Cem Önertürk & Cem Esen (Single)
2021 – Flutopia, Cem Önertürk & Cem Esen (Album)
2021 – Brahms & Esen Waltzes, Cem Esen (Album)
2021 – Voyages: Chapeter Moscow, Poyraz Baltacıgil & Cem Esen (Album)
2021 – Voyages: Chapter Istanbul, Elvin Hoxha Ganiyev & Cem Esen (Album)
2021 – Elegy, Jamal Aliyev & Cem Esen (Single)
2022 – Ballade Op.17, Cem Esen (Single)
Cem Esen, since 2010 is a scholarship holder of Çev Sanat.
His works:
Op.1 Scarlet (for Piano & String Orchestra)
Op.2 Elegy (for Violin & Piano)
Op.3 Fantaisie Polonaise (for Piano)
Op.4 Piano Sonata No.1 (for Piano)
Op.5 Romance (for Cello & Piano)
Op.6 7 Little Impromptus (for Piano)
Op.7 Serbest Varyasyonlar / Free Variations (for Piano)
Op.8 Piano Sonata No.2 (for Piano)
Op.9 Trajik Liedler / Tragic Lieder (9 Lieds) (for Mezzo-Soprano & Piano)
Op.10 Cosmic Variations (for Piano & Orchestra)
Op.11 Nocturne (for Piano)
Op.12 Akşam Güneşi Liedleri / The Evening Sun Lieder (9 Lieds) (for Tenor & Piano)
Op.13 Fantaisie (for Trombone & Piano)
Op.14 Flute Sonata No.1 (for Flute & Piano.)
Op.15 12 Waltzes (for Piano)
Op.16 Symphony (for Orchestra)
Op.17 Ballade (for Piano)
Op.18 Flute Sonata No.2 (for Flute & Piano)
Op.19 Quarantine Diaries (7 Different Pieces for 7 Different Musician that written every day in 7 days)
Op.20 Fantaisie for Brass Quintet on Theme of “Sarı Gelin” and “Ayrılık” (for Horn, 2 Trumpets, Trombone & Tuba)
Op.21 The Blue Fairy Preludes (for Solo Flute)
Op.22 Symphonic Ballet Suite “The Blue Fairy” (for Orchestra)
Op.23 Cello Sonata (for Cello & Piano)
Op.24 Violin Sonata (for Violin & Piano)
Op.25 Intermezzo (for Piano)
Op.26 String Concertante (for String Orchestra / Chamber String Orchestra)
Op.27 Hypatia (for 4 Hands Piano)
Op.28 Nymph (for Piano)
Unpublished
7 Schumann-Esen Dichterliebe Piano Transcriptions (for Piano)
4 Lullabies (for Piano)
2 Caprices (for Solo Violin)
Scherzo (for Solo Violin)
Pavane (for Flute & Piano)
Abendständchen “Lied” (for Soprano & Piano)
Wild Nights “Lied” (for Mezzo-Soprano & Cello)
“Kayıp Köy” / “Lost Village” (for Solo Flute)
Prelude & Fuge (for Choir)
“Sarı Gelin” Transcription (for 2 Violins & Piano)
“Ayrılık” Transcription (for Trombone & Piano)
