Biography
Ozge Serceler is an accomplished cellist whose musical journey began in early childhood. According to her father, each of his children responded differently to the Turkish makam songs played to soothe them to sleep, and she was particularly drawn to the Segah makam, recognized for its effectiveness of inspiring mystical feelings. This early exposure to music inspired her to explore her artistic path, leading her to seek an instrument that would allow her to connect with audiences and share profound emotional experiences.
At the age of eight, Ozge Serceler began her formal music education by learning the piano. However, it was not until she encountered a cassette recording of Schubert Trio in E minor. Captivated by the cello's sound in Schubert's Piano Trio in E minor, second movement, she realized her calling when her father took her to a chamber music recital, solidifying her desire to perform on stage.
At thirteen, she began taking private lessons from Ayna Isababayeva at Erciyes University School of Music. She furthered her education at music high schools in Kayseri and Ankara. During this time, her sister who was studying her bachelor’s degree in flute performance at Bilkent University Conservatory introduced her to the renowned cello professor Gara Aliyev. Encouraged by him, she auditioned for his studio and was awarded a full scholarship to attend Bilkent University for four years.
During a summer visit with her oldest sister, a pianist and instructor at Sıtkı Kocman University in Muğla, Turkey, they dreamed of pursuing their musical careers in London. This vision led Serceler to audition for the Royal College of Music, where she was accepted with a full scholarship. However, as a non-citizen, she needed to secure sponsorship for her studies. When this proved challenging, she auditioned for Anadolu University State Conservatory in Eskişehir, Turkey.
Under the mentorship of Professor Ozan Evrim Tunca, Serceler participated in numerous masterclasses, festivals, youth orchestras, and professional orchestra tours, gaining valuable networking and performance experience. After graduating, she began working with various orchestras as a contracted musician. Recognizing the need for further study, she resumed her master’s degree with Professor Tunca at Anadolu University. When the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to online learning, she connected with Professor Evgeni Rachyev from Stephen F. Austin University, who encouraged her to pursue her second master's degree in the United States.
Following his guidance, Serceler auditioned for the master’s degree in cello performance program at Stephen F. Austin University, where she successfully secured two assistantships: one as a teaching assistant in the Music Prep Division and another as an ensemble librarian. Her professor emphasized the importance of networking, leading her to work with the Longview Symphony Orchestra and subsequently with several others, including Texarkana, Shreveport, San Angelo, South Arkansas, and Plano Symphony Orchestras as section cellist and principal cellist as needed.
As she approached the completion of her master's degree, Serceler reached out to Professor Amit Peled at the Peabody Institute for an online masterclass, expressing her desire to study under his mentorship. She auditioned for the Graduate Performance degree at Johns Hopkins University Peabody Institute, receiving the Artistic Excellence Award, which significantly supported her program expenses. Throughout her studies with Professor Peled, she auditioned for and accepted a position as a section cellist in the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in Virginia. Currently, she continues her education at Peabody Conservatory, focusing on audience engagement and the meaningful expression of her musicality.