The sound of Mehmet Aydin is one of eclectic nature. Combining elements of jazz, middle eastern and classical styles, his work embodies the organic nature of things, human life and how we all relate. His exploration in electronic music and handles on violin, viola and keyboards has enabled him to work with many producers and bands all over the world.
Mehmet Aydin is a Turkish born musician and experience designer based in Brooklyn, New York.
His multidisciplinary approach to the arts has had him perform, compose and produce music in varied genres ranging from classical, commercial, jazz and electronic dance and ambient and music for TV and motion picture. He is a classically trained violist with studies at Juilliard, New England Conservatory and San Francisco Conservatory, completing pre college, bachelor and masters degrees. Doctorate studies at Rutgers with CJ Chang, principal of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Craig Mumm, Assistant Principal of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
An active performer and multi-instrumentalist, as both a violinist, violist and producer, Mehmet has frequently appeared in productions, venues and festivals around the world including but not limited to Carnegie Hall, NPR Music Live, ArtBasel, Burning Man, Istanbul International Music Festival, Lincoln Center, Barclays Center, Summer Stage at Central Park, Le Poisson Rouge, House of Yes, Rockwood Music Hall, Mysteryland Festival, Royce Hall, the Fillmore and many others throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.
A recipient of several awards, Mehmet has been awarded first prize at Greenwich Center for Chamber Music (solo performance), the Fairfield County Composers Showcase (composition - "Infinity" for viola & piano) and an honorable mention for a performance of the Schumann Piano Quintet at the Summit music festival. His concert appearances and scoring projects for TV and motion picture have been featured in the press and exhibited in film festivals internationally.
As a performer, he has shared the live stage with many distinguished bands and artists, most notably with John Williams, Max Richter, Olafur Arnalds, Krystle Warren, Francesca Lombardo, Burt Bacharach, Christian McBride, Idil Mese, Sir Simon Rattle, Michael Tilson Thomas, Kenny Werner, Tim Hagans, The Goldenhearts, and orchestras including but not limited to Ensemble Le Poisson Rouge “LPR”, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic and the CRR Istanbul Symphony Orchestra.
As a recording artist Mehmet has recorded both live and in the studio on critically acclaimed albums notably with the Krystle Warren and the Faculty, Istanbul Philharmonic, Ensemble LPR, Sunny Kim, Heather Christian & the Arbornauts, Kollektif Istanbul, 123, and Felix Van Cleef, Ace Eljah, Atalkindrum and others.
Besides his performing career, as a producer he has composed and produced music for award wining TV commercials and motion picture. Clients include Sesame Street, Turkcell, Avea, Vodafone, Coca Cola, Ulker and others. His latest work for the score of Yagmur Altan’s “Rabbit Blood” won 5 awards internationally and was nominated for 18 awards.
Mehmet was invited to play the worlds most valuable instrument, the 45M Stradivarius “Mc Donald” viola at Sothebys and was featured on the press for his appearance with the instrument on major newspapers in 2016.
Photography by Yeliz Atici