BİO
Oğuz Büyükberber (b. 1970) is an Amsterdam-based composer, bass clarinetist, electroacoustic performer, and visual artist whose work operates at the intersection of contemporary composition, avant-garde improvisation, modular synthesis, and visual arts.
Büyükberber holds a Master of Music degree from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam—where he studied bass clarinet with Harry Sparnaay and composition with Theo Loevendie, Guus Janssen, and Roderik de Man—alongside formal studies in Fine Arts and Architecture at Mimar Sinan University in Istanbul. His theoretical work on harmonic systems culminated in a pedagogical method book published by Donemus, establishing novel methodologies for pitch organization and structural coherence.
His extensive discography encompasses over 60 commercial releases, including acclaimed record labels such as ECM and Blue Note.
As an avant garde jazz clarinetist, Oğuz Büyükberber has shared the stage with Gerry Hemingway, Simon Nabatov, Nils Wogram, Craig Harris, Ches Smith, John Zorn and many others, while exploring raw voltage control and analog modular synthesis with his alter ego artist name OX Barber.
His creative practice has gained significant international critical acclaim, featured in leading music publications such as DownBeat and The Wire, as well as on major international television and radio broadcasters including Mezzo, Concertzender, ÖRF, VPRO, TRT, RBB and SWR.
As a teacher and researcher, Büyükberber has delivered masterclasses, lectures, and guest professorships at international institutions, including Brigham Young University, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), ArtEZ Conservatory, Whitman College, University of New Mexico, University of Tennessee, Istanbul Bilgi University, Latvian Academy of Music, University of Nottingham, Estonian Academy of Music, Electronic Music Malta, and Izmir Yasar University. He has undertaken artist residencies at STEIM (Amsterdam), EMS (Stockholm), Willem Twee Studios (’s-Hertogenbosch), and WORM (Rotterdam).
His compositional portfolio features major commissions for ensembles and institutions across Europe, including the Kairos String Quartet, Marc Sinan Company, Orkest De Ereprijs, Dresdner Sinfoniker, BIMHUIS, STEIM, Akbank, Spreehalle, Karnatic Lab, Spinifex Orchestra, AXYZ Ensemble, and David Kweksilber Big Band.
Combining fine art exhibitions with electroacoustic performance, Büyükberber continues to push the boundaries of multi-sensory compositional praxis.
Awards and Achievements:
“10 masters, 10 albums” Lifetime contribution award, Kuru Kahveci Mehmet Efendi-Hayyam Studios Turkey 2025
4, 1/2 stars Downbeat Magazine 2018
Carte Blanche - Bimhuis 2012
Carte Blanche - Akbank Jazz Festival 2010
Best Instrumentalist - Readers Poll and Critics Poll Jazz Magazine Turkey ‘96, ‘97, ‘98
Best Instrumentalist - National Music award for university students Turkey ‘93
First Prize Entrance Exam of Mimar University of Fine Arts ‘87
Numerous national and international painting and poetry competitions in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
