Istanbul-born Emil Kuyumcuyan is a percussionist, composer and electronic musician with Croatian, Greek, Armenian, and African roots. His original identity as a musician is shaped by influences of contemporary-classical, jazz and Anatolian music, which blend into a unique performing language.
The eclectic musician performs as an acclaimed percussionist, primarily in the contemporary-classical music scene, and composes instrumental and electronic music. He won the first prize at the Tromp International Percussion Competition, the most noteworthy percussion focused international competition. His other accolades include the first prize as a soloist at the Stockholm International Music Competition and a prize for his trio at the International Percussion Competition Luxembourg.
As one of the most internationally known percussionists, Emil Kuyumcuyan tours as a soloist; he creates concert programs consisting of percussion music with new commissions, existing repertoire and his own compositions. He has performed as a soloist with AskoSchönberg Ensemble and Chœur de Radio France. He also tours as a member of Les Percussions de Strasbourg and of the Trio K/D/M and as a guest performer with ensembles including Ensemble Intercontemporain, Ensemble Modern, Boulez Ensemble, Ensemble Ascolta, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Opera de Paris and Slagwerk Den Haag to name a few. Besides his compositions, his concert repertoire includes masterworks from J. S. Bach to newest pieces of living composers, with whom he also regularly collaborates. Furthermore, he is active in the multimedia performance and musical theatre fields. In 2019 he made his first audiovisual creation, entitled "I S T A N B U L | the roots", a multimedia performance inspired by the Turkish city.
In 2023 he released his first electronic album, "It's Not About Me", with WIC Recordings, which incorporates elements of IDM and Drum and Bass while still showcasing his classical music background. He also composes for more diverse instrumental and electronic formations and has received commissions from the Philharmonie Cologne (KoelnMusik), Kunststiftung Baden-Württemberg, IPEA Competition Shanghai, Montforter Zwischentöne and the World Marimba Competition Stuttgart.
He shares his artistic expertise worldwide and is regularly invited as a judge in international competitions. He is also a passionate teacher, at this point as a Tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and since 2023 as a Professor of Percussion at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts.
Born in a mélomane family in Istanbul and growing up listening to many musical genres, Emil Kuyumcuyan began his musical education at twelve years old at the Mimar Sinan State Conservatory in Istanbul, where he started playing the trombone before discovering his passion for percussion. In the early periods, while studying in the busy schedule of the conservatory, he learned the profound classical music culture and theory. He also discovered his early and significant musical influences from Metal, Jazz and Contemporary Music, through artists like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Dave Holland Quintet, Esbjörn Svensson Trio and Pierre Boulez.
After finishing high school, he went to study percussion at the The State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart where he learned from Marta Klimasara, Klaus Dreher, Jürgen Spitschka and Harald Löhle. Later, his musical affinity led him to study in France with Jean Geoffroy at CNSMDL (National High Conservatory Of Music And Dance Of Lyon).
Emil Kuyumcuyan is a Yamaha Artist and has been endorsed by Kolberg and Turkish Cymbals. He loves spending time with family and friends, Ramen, cooking, the sunshine, autumn walks, Paris, linguistics, reading, and, from time to time, doing pointless stuff.