Zeynep Yiğitoğlu, born in Istanbul in 2003, began her musical journey with piano at the age of six and was accepted into the full-time viola programme at Istanbul University State Conservatory in 2013. From 2013 to 2021, she studied viola with Prof. Beste Tiknaz Modiri. At the same time, she was accepted into the Piano Certificate Programme at Istanbul University State Conservatory and studied with Prof. Lale Feridunoğlu and Svetlana Duran between 2013 and 2022. Yiğitoğlu is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in Viola Performance at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she completed her first two years with Lila Brown and is now continuing her studies with Paul Laraia. She is expected to graduate in May 2025.

The violist has participated in numerous festivals and masterclasses in Türkiye, the United States, and Europe, including Apple Hill Chamber Music in the US, and festivals such as Cervo, Festival di Pasqua, CLASSICASTELLO, and Diano Castello in Italy. She has had the opportunity to work with many distinguished musicians, including Edith van Moergastel, Itzhak Rashkovski, Ani Schnarch, Cihat Aşkın, Feza Gökmen, Oğuzhan Kavruk, Önder Baloğlu, Michel Michalakakos, Gilles Apap, Elise Kuder, Hasan Niyazi Tura, Cornelia Schwartz, Taylor Morris, Ayla Erduran, and Hakan Şensoy.

In 2016, she was selected for the Doğuş Children’s Symphony Orchestra and in 2017, she won third prize at the Salzburg Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition. That same year, she performed as a soloist in the ‘Young Soloists with the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Symphony Orchestra’ concert. After giving a recital in Istanbul in 2019, she received the Special Jury Honor Award with Trio Animus at the International Ceren Necipoğlu Istanbul Harp Festival Chamber Music Competition and performed in the New Year’s concert of the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Toshiyuki Shimada.

In 2020, Yiğitoğlu won first prize at the King’s Peak International Music Competition. In 2021, she was awarded first prize at the Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition, earning the opportunity to perform a solo at Carnegie Hall. That same year, she also won first prize at the London Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition and performed at the Royal Albert Hall. In the summer of 2021, she was selected for the Royal Concertgebouw Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands and performed concerts at the Cologne Philharmonie and Concertgebouw Amsterdam. During this period, she also took part in the #GlobalOdeToJoy project, performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 online with over 100 musicians from 29 countries. In December 2021, she gave another solo performance at Carnegie Hall, and in 2022 she performed as a soloist with the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra. That same year, she was selected for the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra (VFJO) and gave concerts in the summer with the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra in Türkiye, Germany (Berlin Konzerthaus), and the Czech Republic.

In 2024, Yiğitoğlu performed in the American Songbook: Night and Day—A Celebration of Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga concert at the Berklee Performance Centre and also took part in Berklee College’s graduation concert at Agganis Arena alongside guest artists. In June, she gave a concert with the Istanbul Chamber Orchestra and later performed in the ADRA Fest Summer Festival Orchestra.

In addition to her musical career, Yiğitoğlu served as an artist assistant at the Istanbul Jazz Festival, where she had the opportunity to work with Chris Isaak, Thomas Azier, and their teams during the festival. Throughout her education at the Boston Conservatory, she has gained experience in chamber music, orchestra, opera, recording projects, recitals, contemporary music, and jazz. Beyond music, she has a strong interest in dance, travel, theatre, and exploring different cultures. She has taken courses in acting, musical theatre, voice, and ballet at the conservatory, and speaks French at a B1 level. Believing in the unifying power of art and music, Yiğitoğlu aims to grow by learning from new cultures, people, and mentors, and to share her art with wider audiences. Seeking to blend different musical colours, she continues to explore and learn along her artistic journey.