Rüstem Mustafa
Violin
Born in Baku in 1981, the artist began studying the violin at the age of six with Teymur Goychayev. At an early age, he began performing as a soloist with his school orchestra, and at the age of 13, he played Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor with the Baku State Symphony Orchestra.
In 1990 and 1991, he received various awards at international violin competitions held in the former USSR.
In 1995, he was accepted to Bilkent University Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, where he studied under Server Ganiyev and Toğrul Ganiyev. In 1998, he won third prize at the Young Talents Violin Competition organized by the Ministry of Culture. In 1999, he was accepted to the Istanbul University State Conservatory, where he continued his undergraduate studies with Venyamin Varshavski, graduating at the top of his class.
He has performed as a soloist with the Baku State Symphony Orchestra, Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, Istanbul Chamber Orchestra, Milli Reasürans Chamber Orchestra, and Orkestra Sion. He has also served as concertmaster for Orkestra Istanbul, Limak Philharmonic Orchestra, Orkestra Sion, and Filarmonia Istanbul.
Currently, he is a violinist with the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra and also serves as second violin section principal of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra.
