Gizem Yücel is a versatile concert violist equally at home in many genres from classical, to jazz and rock. She holds a doctorate from UNC at Greensboro and has held positions with the Bilkent Symphony and the Greensboro Symphony. She attended Hacettepe University State Conservatory during her formative years in her native country, Turkey and completed her masters at Bilkent University.

As an internationally touring orchestral, chamber and solo performer she has played the Ayvalık festival in Turkey, Łańcut Festival in Poland, Musica en Compostela in Spain, and Festival Del Sole Napa Valley.

​Gizem’s collaborations range from Turkish pianist Fazil Say to Idil Biret, Jean-Philippe Collard to rock sensations Jethro Tull, Rod Steward and jazz bassist Eric Revis.

Gizem lives in NYC and is now the Strings Director at Ethical Culture Fieldston School where she teaches and conducts the student orchestra. She is also a teaching artist mentor for the Harmony Program, an organization inspired by El Sistema. She is also a passionate environmentalist.

During COVID-19, Gizem continues to be a recording artist, appearing on many virtual music projects including the Remote Big Band which recently featured NEA Jazz Master and multi-grammy-winner Paquito D’Rivera. She is a co-director of Truyols Music with her husband, jazz pianist Antonio Truyols. For studio-quality viola tracks, email gizemyucelmusic@gmail.com.