Eylül Esme Bölücek, 24, was born in Ankara, Turkey.  She had her first recital at age 9, and her first solo appearance with orchestra at age 10, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12. Esme has had numerous solo and chamber concerts throughout Europe and North America, performing in Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Benedict Music Tent, among others. Her musical training includes masterclasses and coachings with prominent piano pedagogues such as Orli Shaham, Robert Levin, Yong Hi Moon,  Arie Vardi, Dina Yoffe, Dmitri Alexeev, Mikhail Voskresensky, and Andrea Bonatta. 

Esme is a student of Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky and has studied with her throughout her time in Juilliard, where she is a graduate of the Pre-College program and earned both her Bachelor's and Master’s degrees.