Acting Concertmaster
Ertan Torgul, a native of Turkey, started his violin studies at the Ankara State Conservatory at the age of twelve. He studied violin with Professor Nuri Ceken, Concertmaster of the State Opera and Ballet. After four years he was entered into the “Special status” program designed for gifted students where he studied violin with Professor Suna Kan, one of Turkey’s premier soloists. He received his Bachelor of Music Degree in 1987. Mr. Torgul moved to the United States the same year, to continue his studies with William Barbini, concertmaster of the Sacramento Symphony, at the Sacramento State University, and was a member of the Sacramento Symphony for two years before he went to Indiana University for further studies with Prof. Franco Gulli. After receiving his Performers Diploma from Indiana University Mr. Torgul joined the New World Symphony. There he served as Concertmaster under Michael Tilson Thomas for two seasons, where he recorded, under Argo Label, “Defining Dahl. The Music of Ingolf Dahl.” with the orchestra. During his tenure with the New World Symphony he became one of the founding members of the critically acclaimed Plymouth String Quartet. In its first season the quartet received first prize in the Prix Mercure Wettbewerb in Vienna, second prize in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and was a finalist in the Paolo Borciani String Quartet Competition in Italy. The Florida based Quartet performed throughout Europe, South America and nationwide in such cities as Paris, Vienna, Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Buenos Aires. Plymouth String Quartet also collaborated with such great artists as Jean Yves Thibaudet, Michael Tilson Thomas and The Miami String Quartet.
Mr. Torgul joined the San Antonio Symphony as its Associate Concertmaster in 1995 and since than has been appearing with the orchestra regularly as a soloist. Some of the performances included pieces such as Mendelssohn E minor concerto, Ravel Tzigane, Chausson Poeme, and Mozart 4.
He is a very active chamber musician performing throughout Texas in such cities as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and nationally performing in Festivals in California, Colorado and Vermont. He is a member of the SOLI Chamber Ensemble, which specializes in contemporary repertoire. The San Antonio based group commissions and performs new works every year by prominent composers such as Ned Rorem and Aaron Jay Kernis. His summer engagements include The Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, Music in the Mountains Festival in Northern California, The Cactus Pear Chamber Music Festival in Texas and the Music in the Mountains Festival in Durango, Colorado and the Sun Valley Symphony in Sun Valley Idaho.
Mr. Torgul Plays on a 1732 “Arkwright-Lady Rebecca” Stradivarius violin, Loaned by a true Gentleman of the Arts.
