Cemi’i Can Deliorman

Born in 1984, Cemi’i Can Deliorman began his musical journey as a violinist before turning to conducting. He received his first lessons from Sami Hatipoğlu and Burak Tüzün, later pursuing formal studies at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien. He completed his training at the Kunstuniversität Graz, specialising in orchestral conducting with Martin Sieghart and choral conducting with Johannes Prinz. As a graduate student at Princeton University, he refined his artistry under the mentorship of legendary conductors Pierre Boulez and Kurt Masur, whose influence left a lasting mark on his musical outlook.

Deliorman is co-founder of the Gedik Philharmonic Orchestra in Istanbul, which he led between 2018 and 2020. Since 2020 he has served as Chief Conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO) in Ankara, becoming the youngest conductor in the orchestra’s history to hold this position.

Recent highlights include performances with the CSO at major festivals in Ankara (with Gautier Capuçon) and Istanbul (with Maxim Vengerov), his UK debut in Bristol with the Hezarfen Ensemble, and guest appearances with the symphony orchestras of Sanremo and Grosseto in Italy. In 2020 he conducted the gala opening of the CSO’s new concert hall with Angela Gheorghiu, an event broadcast internationally on Mezzo TV. Has also collaborated with leading artists such as Rolando Villazón, Daniel Müller-Schott, Fatma Said, Johannes Moser, Michel Camilo, Anneleen Lenaerts and Victor Julien-Laferrière.

His repertoire spans the great symphonic and choral-orchestral works – from Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Dvořák, Mahler, Rimsky-Korsakov, Franck and Orff – to rarities and premieres. He introduced Turkish audiences to cello concerti by Arthur Honegger and Erich Korngold and recorded Ligeti’s Chamber Concerto and Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony with the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra. A strong advocate of contemporary music, he remains committed to championing new works and living composers.

In September 2023 Deliorman made his debut at the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre with a programme including works by Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Saint-Saëns, Respighi and Turkish composer Ferit Tüzün. His choral repertoire includes masterworks such as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Verdi’s and Fauré’s Requiems. Has also conducted staged productions of Verdi’s La traviata at the Mariinsky Theatre. Most recently he appeared at the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia for the opening concert of the Moscow Easter Festival, conducting alongside Valery Gergiev.
Information for September 2025