Ali Can Puskulcu is one of eight Resident Composers selected for the 2023 Mizzou International Composers Festival from among 500 applicants, 28% of which are from outside the USA.

He is a Turkish-American composer, violinist, and multimedia artist whose works include pieces for solo artists, sinfonietta, chamber ensembles, and chorus, as well as video art installations, improvisations, and live performances.

Recently, Puskulcu was awarded a Charles Ives Scholarship Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and ASCAP/SEAMUS Commission Competition. Other accolades include a Fromm Foundation Commission from Harvard University and a Copland House Residency Award.

His debut album, Gibberish Shreds was released by New Focus Recordings. Tom Haugen of Take Effect called it “a very atypical debut solo album, where intensity, texturing, and structure are all manipulated in his inimitable vision.” He has performed “Gibberish Shreds Vol. 1” at the MATA Festival in New York City.

His work has been performed and has received accolades elsewhere. The chamber-music piece “Wired” was premiered by Wild Up ensemble at the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Noon to Midnight series in Walt Disney Hall. He also received the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award for his ensemble piece “Broken,” and as a chosen composer, he performed his solo violin piece “Point G” at Lincoln Center in New York City. Additional performances took place at Gaudeamus Muzikweek (Netherlands), Saint-Martin-Vésubie (France), Rutgers University, and the University of Southern California.

Puskulcu completed his Master of Music in music composition at the University of Southern California under the guidance of Andrew Norman and Donald Crockett. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in composition at Brandeis University. 

For the MICF, Puskulcu is presenting from within, which will be performed on Saturday, July 29 at 7:30 pm at the Missouri Theater. The concert will feature Alarm Will Sound playing world premiere performances by Resident Composers. 

You can hear samples of his music on his website.