Umut Fırat Yükselir (b. 1981, Ankara) is a Turkish composer and conductor. Yükselir, who was introduced to music at a young age, took his first lessons from his father composer and singer Hasan Yükselir. After graduating from AAGS High School, where he studied cello, he graduated at Bilkent University, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, Department of Composition and Conducting, with a scholarship and went to his master’s degree at Istanbul University. He studied Orchestral Conducting, Counterpoint and Fugue with Maestro Bujor Hoinic. In 2008 he studied Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music in Boston America.
Yükselir’s work SNM (Scream of a noble moment) was performed by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra in 2006 and had its world premiere. He skipped two grades in his first year at Berklee College of Music and his works have been featured worldwide by the Esterhazy Quartet and the Kalistos Chamber Orchestra. He was also among the top 35 participants in the International Film Music Workshop organized by ASCAP and 20th Century Fox.
The cantata „From YUNUS to NAZIM“, which he wrote together with his father Hasan Yükselir was premiered by Eskişehir Büyükşehir Belediye Orkestrası and accompaniment of the European Choir and he worked with the famous sound engineer Simon Gibson at London’s Abbey Road studios during the mastering process of the movie „72nd Ward“. Yükselir won the „Kral TV“ Best Film Music and the „Crystal Apple“ Best Commercial Music Special Jury Award.
Fırat Yükselir gave many concerts at home and abroad and had the opportunity to conduct his works as an orchestra conductor. In his filmography, „Breath“ (2009), Karagül (2013-2016), „72nd Ward“ (2011), „The Sea in My Heart“ (2016-2018), „Red Room“ (2020-2022), The Girl in the Window (2021 -2023), Tailor (Netflix 2023).
Yükselir’s work SNM (Scream of a noble moment) was performed by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra in 2006 and had its world premiere. He skipped two grades in his first year at Berklee College of Music and his works have been featured worldwide by the Esterhazy Quartet and the Kalistos Chamber Orchestra. He was also among the top 35 participants in the International Film Music Workshop organized by ASCAP and 20th Century Fox.
The cantata „From YUNUS to NAZIM“, which he wrote together with his father Hasan Yükselir was premiered by Eskişehir Büyükşehir Belediye Orkestrası and accompaniment of the European Choir and he worked with the famous sound engineer Simon Gibson at London’s Abbey Road studios during the mastering process of the movie „72nd Ward“. Yükselir won the „Kral TV“ Best Film Music and the „Crystal Apple“ Best Commercial Music Special Jury Award.
Fırat Yükselir gave many concerts at home and abroad and had the opportunity to conduct his works as an orchestra conductor. In his filmography, „Breath“ (2009), Karagül (2013-2016), „72nd Ward“ (2011), „The Sea in My Heart“ (2016-2018), „Red Room“ (2020-2022), The Girl in the Window (2021 -2023), Tailor (Netflix 2023).
Awards:
* Kral TV Best Soundtrack Award (Nefes Vatan Sağolsun) (2010)
* Crystal Apple Best Commercial Music Special Jury Award (Enerjisa) (2011)
The MainWeltmusic festival is thrilled to Welcome Umut Fırat Yükselir for the 10th anniversary. With his wide range of experience and professional expertise, his performance will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience and one of the highlights of the festival. Join us and experience his extraordinary talent live!