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About

Bilge Günaydın is a Turkish jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, and arranger based in NYC. She started her early education in music at Istanbul University State Conservatory. After she graduated from Istanbul University Law Faculty, she decided to continue her education in the jazz music area. Finally, she got a full scholarship with an assistantship opportunity from William Paterson University and she got her Master of Music degree in jazz composition in the U.S. Also, she studied with Bill Charlap, Pete McGuinness, Cecile Bridgewater, Steve Nelson, Ed Neumeister, and many valuable mentors and musicians there. Bilge Günaydın's debut album, "Daydreams” was released by Turkish Label Ada Music and Japanese Label Inpartmaint digitally and as CD in 2020. Also, her second album “Sketches of Green” was released by Drom NYC and Innsbruck Records in 2022. Günaydın appeared as a guest conductor and big band composer, and arranger in collaborations with WPU Jazz Orchestra, One More Once Big Band, and Istanbul Youth Jazz Orchestra. She was the arranger and guest conductor at the concert of the WPU Jazz Orchestra featuring legendary vibraphonist Steve Nelson in 2023. She was also a member of the Istanbul Youth Jazz Orchestra directed by Baki Duyarlar and her big band arrangements and compositions were played by this orchestra at the 24th and 25th Akbank International Jazz Festivals in Istanbul. Also, she played with Nicholas Payton as the pianist of the same orchestra.  Bilge Günaydın performed her projects with her bands at many well-known festivals and venues such as Istanbul International Jazz Festival, Akbank International Jazz Days, Ankara International Jazz Festival, Composers Now Festival in NYC, Sibiu Jazz Festival in Romania, Flushing Town Hall NYC, Drom NYC, Nardis Jazz Club in Istanbul, Rockwood Music Hall NYC,  etc. Günaydın’s music is a great mixture of jazz, some Mediterranean inspirations, Turkish backgrounds of the pianist, contemporary and classical music influences, and lots of energy with a great orchestra including distinguished musicians. She continues her music career between Istanbul and New York.

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