Born in August 1976, Emre Elivar began his piano studies at the age of five with Prof. Kamuran Gündemir and graduated in 1996 from State Conservatoire in Ankara. The DAAD scholarship made his further education and specialization in Germany at music academies “Carl Maria von Weber” Dresden with Prof. Peter Rösel and “Hanns Eisler“ Berlin with Georg Sava possible, at latter he obtained his degree “Konzertexamen mit Auszeichnung” in 2005.
During his studies and early career Elivar won several international music prizes like the triple awards in Bremen in 1999, the bronze medal at “Cidado do Porto” in 1999 and at “World Piano Competition” in Cincinnati in 2000, Steinway-Prize in 2001, Arthur Schnabel Prize in 2002 and Vendôme-Prize in 2003.
Among his concerts in international arena the most important recitals are the first performance of Well Tempered Clavier I by J. S. Bach in complete in Turkey during the Istanbul International Music Festival in 2005, the “Great Variations” in 2008 again for the Istanbul International Music Festival with works by Mendelssohn (Variations Sérieuses op. 54), Brahms (both books of Paganini-Variations op. 35) and Beethoven (Diabelli-Variations op. 120), his USA debut in Washington DC in 2009, organized by “Embassy Series” with works by Schumann and Chopin, the recital with works by Shostakovich (Aphorisms op. 13 & 2nd Sonata op. 61) and Prokofiev (Visions Fugitives op. 22, Sarcasms op. 17 & 2nd Sonata op. 14) in 2010 as well as his recitals with works by Debussy (Images I & II) and Ravel (Valses nobles et sentimentales & Gaspard de la Nuit) in 2013. As soloist he performed with orchestras such as Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Dortmund Philharmonic, Kassel State Orchestra, North West German Philharmonic, Anhaltische Philharmonie Dessau, Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Orquestra Nacional do Porto, Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra etc.
Along with his Bremer recording of the French Suite No. 3 BWV 817 by Bach and the Concerto No. 1 by Liszt, the artist also recorded important works of several Turkish composers and as a double album the Three Last Sonatas opp. 109, 110, 111 and the Diabelli – Variations, op. 120 by Beethoven. His CD released by Sony BMG with works by Schubert (Three Piano Pieces D 946) and Schumann (Symphonic Etudes op. 13) earned great reviews internationally. The recital in June 2010, totally dedicated to Schumann containing his both sonatas, broadcasted live to honour Schumann’s 200th birthday by 50 members of EBU (European Broadcast Union). In 2013 his recording with works by Chopin is released by TRT as a double album.
Emre Elivar is since June 2011 co-founder of Arkas Trio and lives in Berlin, Germany.