Biography :

Doublebassist Volkan Orhon's career spans a wide variety of solo, orchestral and chamber music performing and teaching across the country and around the world. His playing has been described as "brilliant," and "like a great singer" and his musicality described as "emotional intensity." He was a finalist and prize-winner in the Concert Artists Guild Solo Competition in New York City, and was the co-first place winner of the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition. Additionally, he distinguished himself as the first doublebass player ever to win the Grand Prize overall and first prize for doublebass at the American String Teacher's Association Solo Competition.

Mr. Orhon has performed with internationally recognized musicians including Gary Karr and the Emerson String Quartet, and has performed solo with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, Hartford Symphony Orchestra The Connecticut Orchestra, Connecticut Virtuosi, New Britain Symphony, Connecticut Valley Chamber Orchestra, Rochester Youth Philharmonic, Cortlandt Chamber Orchestra and Northern Westchester Symphony Orchestra. He also performed in a European tour with the Fazil Say and Kudsi Erguner Jazz Quartet, performing at prestigious festivals including the Montreux, Saint Denis - Paris, Antibes, Montpellier, Istanbul and Izmir jazz festivals.

Since coming to the United States in 1991, Mr. Orhon received an Artist diploma and Master of Music degree from The Hartt School of Music. He has studied with esteemed double bass teachers including Gary Karr, Tahir Sumer, Diana Gannett, Mark Morton and Robert Black.

Mr. Orhon was born and raised in Turkey. He began playing the double bass at the age of 12, and spent much of his youth touring Europe. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Ankara State Conservatory, he became a member of the Ankara Presidential Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Orhon came to the United States in 1991 to continue his studies with Gary Karr at The Hartt School of Music. In addition to his solo playing, he has been a member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Connecticut Opera Orchestra and a freelance musician throughout New England. He also served on the faculties of the University of Connecticut, Central Connecticut State University, University of Massachusetts, The Hartt School Community Division of University of Hartford, and Summer Strings Music Festival in Pocatello, Idaho.

Mr. Orhon is currently the Assistant Professor of Double Bass at the University of Iowa School of Music. He is a D'Addario Diamond Performing Artist, and performs exclusively on D'Addario Strings.