Tolga Yayalar, from Istanbul, Turkey, is a composer recognized for his distinctive approach to contemporary music, rooted in early influences from rock and jazz. His compositions, initially inspired by Anton Webern, blend serialism with jazz's improvisational energy, emphasizing texture, timbre, and microtonality. Yayalar’s work merges Eastern tuning systems with Western classical traditions, creating a unique fusion of cultural sounds.

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His compositions have been performed by ensembles such as Le Nouvel Ensemble Modern, Alarm Will Sound, and the Orchestre National de Lorraine, and have been showcased at festivals like Ars Electronica, MaerzMusik, Acht Brücken Musik für Köln, BeethovenFest, and the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival. Yayalar has also collaborated with actor and choreographer Korhan Başaran on works like Dido, presented at the İstanbul Theater Festival and Vienna’s Europa in Szene festival, highlighting his interdisciplinary interests.

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Yayalar's contributions to contemporary music have earned him awards, including the Donald Aird Memorial Prize and the League of Composers/ISCM Composition Award. He holds degrees from Berklee College of Music, Istanbul Technical University, and a Ph.D. from Harvard University, and currently serves on the composition faculty at Bilkent University, continuing to influence and innovate within contemporary music.