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Photograph of Osman Kivrak

Osman Kivrak Musician in Residence Performing Arts

Additional Positions at AU
Musician-In-Residence
Bio
Osman Kivrak, violist, was a winner of the National Scholarship Competition in Turkey, the Baltimore Chamber Music Awards, the Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Awards, the Culver (California) Chamber Music Competition and of three Maryland National Parks and Planning Commission Awards. He performs with the Sunrise Quartet and the National Gallery of Art String Quartet. Recently, the Quartet performed to great acclaim at the Musica Sacra festival in Ecuador. The Quartet has performed with noted pianists Menahem Pressler and Miceal O’Rourke, and with guitarist Roland Dyens.

The Quartet has recorded for the Living Music, Arizona University Recordings, Amcam and AmeriMusic labels. A collection of Christmas music, which they edited, has been published under the imprint of G. Schirmer, Inc. West Virginia Public Television and Chinese National Television have also featured the Sunrise Quartet in a one-hour TV show “A Musical Bridge to China” broadcast. Performances by the Quartet have been broadcast for National Public Radio’s “Performance Today”, “What Makes it Great” and “Front Row Washington”.

He received a Master of Music and Doctorate of Music degree from the Catholic University of America. Before coming to the United States, he received his Bachelor of Music from Gazi University in Turkey and studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London.

He has also performed at the Spoleto Festival in the USA and Italy and he has toured Europe a number of times as a chamber music player with other groups. His works have been performed in Washington DC at the Kennedy Center, the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Library of Congress and throughout the United States and in Turkey as well as on National Public Radio. Formerly a professor at the Izmir State Conservatory in Turkey, Dr. Kivrak currently teaches viola and chamber music at American University where he is Musician in Residence.

What the critics say:

"Brilliant and exhilarating."

Joseph McLellan, Washington Post


“ . . . a rich yield, clearly meriting universal attention."

Mark Carrington, Washington Post


“ . . . Exuberant and lyrical . . . the duo played it as if they owned it, which indeed they do, and did a good job of selling its virtues."

Joan Reinthaler, Washington Post


“ . . . a welcome burst of sunshine. Growing from a hypnotic drone into a wild dervish dance. . .”

Joe Banno, Washington Post

“ . . . lovely, intertwining melodies that were at once beautiful yet dark. . .”

Alex Arcone, Alexandria Gazette

“ . . . infused the audience with joy and moved them to the verge of dance.”

Dennis Forney, Cape Gazette
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Teaching

Spring 2024

  • MUS-021 Private Instrument Study: Viola

  • MUS-022 Private Instrument Study: Viola

  • MUS-121 Private Instrument/Vocal Study: Viola

  • MUS-122 Private Instrument/Vocal Study: Viola

  • MUS-434 Private Instrument/Vocal Study: Senior Recital, Viola

  • MUS-792 Private Instrument/Vocal Study: Viola

Fall 2024

  • MUS-021 Private Instrument Study: Viola

  • MUS-022 Private Instrument Study: Viola

  • MUS-121 Private Instrument/Vocal Study: Viola

  • MUS-122 Private Instrument/Vocal Study: Viola