Leyla Cemiloglu Piano Recital

BIO

Leyla Cemiloglu is a concert pianist based in London, with a particular interest in exploring

intersectionality in the arts, through collaboration with living composers, championing minority

composers and seeking inspiration from other art forms.

Leyla enjoys combining these interests and presenting them alongside her extensive knowledge of

the mainstream classical repertoire, with the intention of finding a deeper meaning and relevance

that speaks to current and future audiences, performing frequently across the UK as well as in

Europe, Turkey and Northern Cyprus.

Leyla studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School for eight years, under the tutelage of Prof. Ruth Nye

MBE. She went on to study with Prof. Joan Havill at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, for

both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies, supported by the Guildhall School, the AJA, the

William Barry Trust and the Headley Trust. During this time Leyla was Highly Commended in the

2018 Romantic Prize, a finalist in the 2020 Glass Sellers’ Beethoven Prize, and awarded the Concert

Recital Diploma. Leyla is grateful for the close guidance of legendary Turkish pianist İdil Biret, on

whose invitation Leyla performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 earlier this month in Bodrum,

Turkey, as part of the festival held in her name.

Other recent projects include a radio-broadcast concert of music by Frank Zappa for BBC Total

Immersion, with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s Ubu Ensemble, an appearance with the

ensemble Piano Circus, performing Steve Reich's 'Six Pianos' at the Cambridge Music Festival, a solo

recital at the University of Surrey, and a fundraising concert in aid of earthquake relief in Turkey and

Syria, for which Leyla founded and organised the Evil Eye Ensemble.