Erden Bilgen & Chamber Ensemble Cologne
ERDEN BILGEN, born 1950 in Kars,
Turkey,started his music career studying first with Selim Bilgen his father,
and Cemal Cimcoz. He then studied at the Izmir State Conservatory with Hermann
Neuling and Hans Nicolai for five years between 1964-1969. He graduated from
Ankara State Conservatoire in 1971 after two years of mentoring from Jean Claude
Bayeaux.
He played the trumpet with the Presidential Symphony Orchestra for seven years
between 1971-1978. He also performed different musical compositions on classical,
folk, pop and jazz styles on TV and radio programs during the same period.
He was invited to Germany in 1978, and has been performing and teaching music
abroad since then. He was the Associate Solo Trumpet at the Essen Philharmonic
Orchestra. He gave trumpet lectures at the Music School and College of Education.
(Pädagogische Hochschule) in Freiburg and solfeggio at College of Music
in Stuttgart (Musikhochshule). He performed at the world premier of many newly
composed pieces with Avance the German Contemporary Ensemble. He participated
to festivals and concerts and was invited to attend instrument seminars held
abroad. He chaired all brass sections during the seminars on ''blowing techniques"
and "interpretation of pieces."
He acted as the constitutional member of the Freiburg School of Jazz in Germany
and gave trumpet lectures at the same school.
Mr. Bilgen gave trumpet and chamber music lectures and seminars at the State
Conservatories of Anatolian,Istanbul Technical, Hacettepe, Mersin and Cukurova
Universities, Bilkent University Music Faculty .
In 1991, he was awarded with Soloist Musician (State Soloist) title by the Ministry
of Culture. To date, this title was given only to Erden Bilgen on brass instruments.
During his career, he has performed as a soloist in various festivals and concerts
held in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, UK, Spain, Portugal, Belgium,
France, Monaco, Sweden, Holland, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Romania, Lithuania,
Hungary, Morocco, Tunisia, Qatar, Mexico, Australia, Canada, America, New Zealand
and Hawaii. He has also participated in reputable festivals and concerts abroad
with his original Turkish compositions.
Composer Nejat Basegmezler dedicated his piece "Sinfonietta for solo trumpet,
piano, and string instruments" to Erden Bilgen and this piece is first
performed by Mr. Bilgen himself, accompanied by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra
and conductor Gurer Aykal, as a world premier in Ankara.
Gary Daverne. the composer and conductor of the Auckland Symphony Orchestra
(New Zealand),composed Gallipoli, the "Rhapsody for Trumpet and Orchestra"
for Mr. Bilgen.
Erden Bilgen has also been performing concerts as a solo artist with the Chamber
Ensemble Cologne, since 1981.
Erden Bilgen & Chamber Ensemble Cologne