Born in Istanbul in 1999, Utku Asan is a pianist who has performed at prestigious festivals such as the Gümüşlük International Classical Music Festival, Ayvalık International Music Academy, İş Sanat Rising Stars Series, Antalya International Piano Festival, Akbank Sanat Piano Days, HfMDK Jazzfest, and Mainweltmusic Festival, appearing on major international stages. He has also performed in renowned venues such as the Alte Oper Frankfurt, the Wiesbaden Kurhaus, and the Stuttgart Liederhalle.
He began his musical education at the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University State Conservatory in Istanbul, studying with Prof. Nurferi Onur and Prof. Ece Demirci. After successfully passing the entrance exams, he continued his bachelor’s studies at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts (HfMDK) in Germany, where he is now pursuing his master’s degree. Throughout his studies, he worked with Prof. Alexej Gorlatch and Vassilia Efstathiadou, and is currently studying with the internationally acclaimed Russian pianist Prof. Dmitry Ablogin. He has been awarded the DAAD scholarship three times and was also a recipient of the Peter-Fuld Foundation scholarship.
Deeply engaged in chamber music, Asan continues his work with Prof. Hansjacob Staemmler and Prof. Angelika Merkle.
Asan was selected as the soloist for his university’s CD project, performing Igor Stravinsky’s Piano Concerto with the HfMDK Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Vassilis Christopoulos. The resulting album, titled “Unerhört,” marks his first professional CD album and was broadcast on Germany’s prominent cultural radio station hr2-kultur.
Among his international achievements are second prizes at the Bursa Nilüfer International Piano Competition and the Musical Fireworks Baden-Württemberg International Piano Competition, an honorary award from the İş Sanat Rising Stars Series, and a finalist position in the Minerbio International Piano Competition in Italy. He also received third prize at the Dialog-Wettbewerb organized by his university.
Asan’s social contributions gained particular attention following the earthquakes of February 6, 2023, when he organized and performed in two major benefit concerts in Frankfurt to support people in Türkiye and Syria, in collaboration with UNICEF.
Together with oud virtuoso Bülent Okan, Asan has launched a series of oud–piano recitals, bringing together diverse musical cultures and sound worlds.
He is also the founder and a member of the Frankfurt-based jazz group B’Sharp#.
Asan has participated in masterclasses with leading pianists including İdil Biret, Gülsin Onay, Hüseyin Sermet, Lilya Zilberstein, Denis Kozukhin, Herbert Schuch, Muza Rubackyte, Johan Schmidt, and Hermann Kretzschmar.