Bilge Günaydın is a Turkish jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, arranger and music educator whose music resonates with audiences around the world. Based in the vibrant musical hub of New York City, Günaydın has established herself , blending her roots with jazz.
Born and raised in Istanbul, Günaydın's musical journey began at the Istanbul University State Conservatory, where she received her early piano education in classical music. After completing her studies at Istanbul University Law Faculty, Günaydın decided to pursue jazz music.
Günaydın earned a full scholarship with an assistantship opportunity from William Paterson University. There, she attained her Master of Music degree in jazz composition in the May of 2023, studying under renowned mentors and musicians such as Bill Charlap, Pete McGuinness, Cecile Bridgewater, Steve Nelson, Ed Neumeister, and many valuable names.
In 2020, Günaydın released her debut album, "Daydreams," showcasing her abilities as a pianist, keyboard player, composer, and arranger. The album, released by Turkish label Ada Music and Japanese label Inpartmaint, captivated listeners worldwide. Notably, Bruce Lindsay of "All About Jazz" magazine commended Günaydın's stylistic range, describing it as moving from laid-back melodies to moments of drama and mystery. He also praised the musicians' performances, solidifying "Daydreams" as an impressive first outing for Bilge Günaydın. Also, with her second album, "Sketches of Green," released in 2022 by Drom NYC and Innsbruck Records NYC, Günaydın showcased her growth and artistic vision with her bandmates Cenk Erdoğan on guitar and Ozan Musluoglu on double bass.
Günaydın has appeared as a guest conductor, big band composer, and arranger with large ensembles such as the WPU Jazz Orchestra, One More Once Big Band, and Istanbul Youth Jazz Orchestra. Also, She shared the stage as a conductor, arranger and pianist with the legendary vibraphonist Steve Nelson and acclaimed trumpet player Nicholas Payton at some of these orchestra concerts.
Günaydın's projects and works have been featured at esteemed events and venues such as Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, Flushing Town Hall NYC, Istanbul International Jazz Festival, Akbank International Jazz Festival, Ankara International Jazz Festival, Composers Now Festival in NYC, Sibiu Jazz Festival in Romania, Drom NYC, Nardis Jazz Club in Istanbul,  and many more.
Günaydın continues to navigate her music career between Istanbul and New York.