Born in Istanbul, Emil Kuyumcuyan is a versatile percussionist, composer and electronic musician with Croatian, Greek, Armenian and African roots. His art combines influences from contemporary classical, jazz, and Anatolian music to create a distinctive musical voice.
His exceptional skills as a percussionist have been recognized with numerous awards, including first prize at the Tromp International Percussion Competition, one of the most prestigious competitions for percussion. He received further honors at the Stockholm International Music Competition and the International Percussion Competition Luxembourg.
Emil Kuyumcuyan has worked as a soloist with ensembles such as Asko|Schönberg and the Chœur de Radio France and is a sought-after member of renowned music groups such as Ensemble Intercontemporain, Ensemble Modern and Les Percussions de Strasbourg. His versatile repertoire ranges from Bach to avant-garde works, complemented by his own compositions and multimedia projects.
With his 2023 electronic album “It's Not About Me” (WIC Recordings), he broke new ground by combining elements of IDM and drum and bass with his classical training. As a composer, he has been commissioned by renowned institutions such as the Cologne Philharmonic, the Baden-Württemberg Arts Foundation and the IPEA competition in Shanghai.
Emil Kuyumcuyan shares his expertise worldwide as a teacher and jury member. He teaches at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and has been appointed as professor of percussion at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts (HfMDK) in 2023. He began his musical journey at the age of twelve at the Mimar Sinan Conservatory in Istanbul, where he initially studied trombone before discovering his passion for percussion. Influenced by a wide range of musical influences, including Metallica, Dave Holland and Pierre Boulez, he formed his distinctive style through further studies in Stuttgart and Lyon.
As a Yamaha artist, supported by Kolberg and Turkish Cymbals, Emil Kuyumcuyan inspires audiences worldwide with his creative performances and innovative compositions. Outside of music, he loves cooking, sunshine, autumn walks and linguistics.