Özberk Miraç Sarıgül, a ninth-grade student at the Bilkent University Music Preparatory High School, won second prize in the competition held at the 17th annual Guitar Art Festival, which took place March 8-13 in Belgrade, Serbia.
The Guitar Art Festival, one of the largest international festivals of classical guitar, not only stages concerts by some of the world’s top musicians in this field, but also supports the advancement of outstanding young guitarists. Its annual competition features six age categories for entrants up to age 32.
Özberk, who competed in the category for candidates born in or before 1999, is no stranger to winning prizes. Before entering the school at Bilkent, he took first place in the Çankaya district finals of the National Education Directorate’s competition in Western classical music instrumental performance in both 2011 and 2012.
In 2012 Özberk began his education at the Bilkent Music Preparatory School with Kağan Korad and Anıl Gelenler. Subsequently, he came in second at the National Classical Guitar Competition held by the Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory in 2014, and in 2015 took first place at the Cemal Reşit Rey International Classical Guitar Competition.
He is currently continuing his studies at the Music Preparatory High School under the supervision of Kağan Korad.