Born in Istanbul, Hüseyin Sermet began to study music at the age of seven. In 1965, he was admitted at the Conservatoire in Ankara. He worked with Ferhunde Erkin, Cemal Erkin at Adnan Saygun, famous Turkish musicians and composers. In 1968, the Turkish government gave him a grant that allowed him to continue his studies at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique de Paris where he was awarded a first prize in piano, chamber music, counterpoint and musical analysis. He studied composition with Olivier Messiaen and, at the Ecole Normale de Musique of Paris, with Thierry de Brunhoff. He also studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris and with Maria Curceo in London. Hüseyin Sermet has been prizes in numerous international competitions and played in most major European cities. In 1988, he was named Doctor Honoris Causa by Bogazici University in Istanbul and in 1991 he was appointed Turkish state artist. In 1999, he was named Doctor Honoris Causa at Marmara University. Hüseyin Sermet gives master classes in various countries such as Turkey (Istanbul State Conservatory, Music Faculty of Bilkent University in Ankara) in Japan (Tokio, Yokohoma, Kyoto French Music Academy, in France Nice Summer Academy and (Musicals Ajaccio) in Spain (Palma de Majorque) and in Korea (Seoul). Among his CDs produced by ERATO, AUVIDIS, HARMONIA MUNDI and NAÏVE AUDIS, Schubert’s Pieces for four-hand piano was interpreted by Maria Joäo Pires (ERATO), Alkan’s Oeuvre pour Piano, R.Hahn’s Pieces for two pianos and four hand piano, F. Schmitt’s Symphonie Concertante payed by Monte Carlo Orchestra, Ravel’s pieces for piano, and several others were all awarded the Diapason d’Or or 5 Diaposons.
Hüseyin Sermet is represented by the Harrison Parrott Agency.