Koptagel, Yuksel (1931—)
Koptagel, Yuksel (1931—)
Turkish composer and concert pianist known for her compositions of French and Spanish interpretation. Born in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 27, 1931; granddaughter of General Osman Koptagel, a famous commander from the Turkish War of Independence.
Yuksel Koptagel, a member of a prominent Turkish family, gave her first concert at age six. After studying piano, theory, and composition with the Turkish composer Cemal Resit, Koptagel journeyed to Madrid and Paris for further work with Joaquin Rodrigo, José Cubiles, Lazare Lévy, Tony Aubin, and Alexandre Tansman. At the Paris Conservatory, she won several first prizes and honorable mentions both for composing and for piano. Koptagel became a concert artist and performed with many international orchestras as a piano soloist. A member of the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, she also served on the jury of the Schola Cantorium and the École Superieur de Musique. Yuksel Koptagel's compositions were written for small ensembles as well as the piano and voice. Her work has a continental European flavor.
John Haag , Athens, Georgia