Young Turkish pianist wins global Vivaldi competition

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when they were spending time at home, Süleyman Çakır asked his 5-year-old son, Yusufhan Çakır, to play the folk song “Uzun ince bir yoldayım” on the piano.

After listening to the song a few times, young Yusufhan played it on the piano, and in the following period he was able to transcribe and play works by famous composers such as Frédéric Chopin and Mozart, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

Realizing his talent, the family began to provide him with formal training. In 2023, he performed Isaac Yakovich Berkovich’s Piano Concerto in C Major with the Batumi Symphony Orchestra. In 2024, again with the same orchestra, he played J.S. Bach’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, BWV 1052.

At the age of 10, the young pianist passed both the Grade 8 Piano Exam and Grade 5 Theory Exam of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) with distinction — earning a high-school-level diploma that is recognized in 60 countries.

He also competed in this year’s Vivaldi International Music Competition and won the world first-place award in the piano category.

“I graduated from high school and it motivated me”

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Yusufhan Çakır said he took the Grade 8 Piano Exam and Grade 5 Theory Exam last September.

“I completed the exams successfully,” he said. “I both became a high school graduate and gained motivation. Finishing the school took me two years, but in the end I succeeded and passed with high results. Passing the theory exam is required in order to pass the Grade 8 Piano Exam. I completed that with a high score as well. I became a high school graduate at 10. My goal for the future is to be both a pianist and an engineer, since I’m also very interested in engineering.”

Çakır, who celebrated his 11th birthday last month, added:

“This year I participated in the Vivaldi International Music Competition Concerto category and won the world first-place award. I had the honor of playing twice with the Batumi Symphony Orchestra. Playing in an orchestra of adults excited me a lot. My goal is to become a world-renowned pianist like Fazıl Say. Even at age 11, I’m composing. I am currently working on a new composition.”

“Yusufhan has the talent to play what he hears”

His mother, Gökçe Çakır, said they used to run a private music school, but they closed it during the pandemic and brought the piano home.

She emphasized that Yusufhan first encountered the piano at home.

“During the pandemic, Yusufhan’s talent emerged. After two years at home, he learned to play the piano on his own at age 5. At age 7, he began lessons at a private education center. His exceptional talent and perfect pitch became clear very quickly — he can play what he hears. Most recently, he passed the Grade 8 Exam of the internationally recognized Royal Schools of Music in England and earned a high school diploma recognized in 60 countries, at age 10. Another thing that made us proud is that he won first place in the Vivaldi International Music Competition, which is held online and attracts thousands of participants from around the world.”

She added that Yusufhan continues his education in Türkiye and is currently a 6th-grade student.