16-year-old Turkish Pianist Can Saraç Wins Grand Prize in Italy

Can SARAÇ, the youngest pianist to participate in the academy and the only musician from Turkey was selected from among pianists aged 16-30 from all over the world and was honored with the ‘Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli’ award. Saraç also received the 5,000 euro prize awarded by the city of Eppan.

Playing the piano since the age of 5 and starting his education at the Istanbul University State Conservatory, Can Saraç has been continuing his studies for the past 3 years at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich under the guidance of Prof. Schäfer, in the section for exceptionally talented students.

Saraç, a scholarship student at the Liechtenstein Academy and regularly working with some of the world’s most esteemed professors, is currently a high school student at Kültür College.

This June, he was invited as an artist to the prestigious The Cliburn Junior competition held every four years in Texas, one of the most distinguished competitions in the world.

Saraç shared his award on social media with the following message: “I had a promise to my country, to my teachers who raised me, to my family, and to my listeners, and I won! I came first in the Piano Academy Eppan piano competition held this Saturday in Italy, winning the Michelangeli Award! We continue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our Republic with our achievements.”