Named the Rising Young Musician of the Year of Istanbul in 2017, Celil Refik Kaya has performed in the most prestigious concert halls and festivals around the US and Turkey, including Carnegie Hall, The Frick Collection Museum, NYCGS, Round Top, Brevard and Ankara International Music Festival, as well as numerous radio and TV broadcasts throughout the United States and Turkey.

Born in Istanbul, Celil studied in Turkey with his father Mehmet Refik Kaya, Yusuf Doğan Büyüköğüt, Raffi Arslanyan and Soner Egesel. He later undertook his master’s degree in New York City at the Mannes School of Music with Michael Newman and privately with Sharon Isbin.

Kaya is currently studying for his DMA at Univ. Of Texas Austin in the studio of Adam Holzman. Kaya is also an avid composer, with his chamber and instrumental works being performed throughout the United States, Turkey, South Korea and Australia.