  |
 |
  |
|
|
|
(for Word document format in various languages and lengths to be used for performances, please visit the presenters page.)
With a recent cover article feature published by the UK based Classical Guitar magazine, Cem Duruöz was characterized as an "extraordinarily gifted player” and "cultural ambassador who delivered a generous and landmark introduction of new repertoire”. The American Record Guide/Music in Concert recently wrote: "His flawless classical technique, depth of color, long flowing lines, clean playing and tight rhythmic style made everyone listen in an entirely different way. In a total hush, I felt the audience transformed." The two-time Grammy winner guitarist Sharon Isbin said: “His excellent stage presence complements his virtuosic technique and musical, elegant artistry.”
Mr. Duruöz has performed in four continents in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Japan, France, Greece, Bosnia, Spain, the UK, Serbia, Kosovo, Poland, Mexico, throughout Turkey and the USA. His recent concert appearances include a return performance at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York in a program titled Guitar in Turkey, his UK premiere performance at the Purcell Room in London, his Concierto de Aranjuez performances with the Turkish National Symphony Orchestra, a French Baroque Concert at the prestigious Istanbul Festival, recitals at the Guitarras del Mundo Festival in Argentina, Baščaršijske Noći Festival in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hondarribia Guitar Festival in France, Gliwice Guitar Festival in Poland and Semana de Guitarra Sainz de la Maza in Spain, the Minnesota Guitar Society, Marlow Guitar Series and Redwood Arts Council Series in the US as well as the World Premiere performance of the Concerto Anatolia by David Hahn in Texas. With recent endorsements by Alhambra Guitars and D’Addario strings he will return to Carnegie Hall twice during the 2010-2011 season.
A multi-faceted musician, Cem Duruöz has collaborated with bandoneón/tango master Raul Jaurena, gambist John Dornenburg and soprano Camille Zamora. A frequent soloist, he has appeared with more than ten orchestras regularly performing Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez among others, under the batons of such conductors as Michel Tabachnik, Angel Gil-Ordóñez, Antonio Pirolli, Vladymir Sirenko and Erol Erdinç. In January 2008 he gave the world premiere performance of Concierto Anatolia, a guitar concerto featuring Turkish melodies and rhythms written for him by American composer David Hahn.
Cem Duruöz has released four CDs to international critical acclaim: His debut album “Pièces de Viole”, which features his arrangements of Marais’ French baroque gamba music, was released by Centaur and received rave reviews in magazines such as American Record Guide, Fanfare, Classics Today, Classical Guitar and BBC Music. Being a contemporary music enthusiast, he commissioned new works from emerging composers and recorded them in his second Centaur release “Contemporary Music for Guitar”, along with masterpieces of the guitar repertoire by Walton and Davidovsky.
His third solo CD, “Desde el Alma - Tango Classics” was released in 2006 under ADA-Müzik label and called “A masterpiece” by Argentine critics. The CD features a variety of tango styles such as the milonga and vals as well as some of the most famous tangos transcribed by him using the interpretations of the legendary Argentine Tango orchestras of the 20th century. The CCGS Newsletter wrote: “His rich tone of execution is superbly captured on this high quality recording, as is the exactness of every note without any sacrifice of the rhythmic pulse.”
His most recent solo CD “Treasures of Anatolia” represents his return to his roots, featuring his own arrangements of various styles of Traditional Turkish Music.
Turkish born guitarist Cem Duruöz (or "Gem" as pronounced in his native tongue) began his training with Safa Gürbüz and continued with Ahmet Kanneci. He won the first prize in the Turkish National Guitar Competition at the age of seventeen. Subsequently he participated in the master-classes of John Duarte, Oscar Ghiglia and Eliot Fisk in Europe, received his Master’s degree at the San Francisco Conservatory and completed his graduate guitar studies at The Juilliard School with Sharon Isbin. As an enthusiastic educator, Cem Duruöz has been giving master-classes throughout the world and teaching guitar performance at Wesleyan University in the USA.