Emir Gamsızoğlu was born in Istanbul, Turkey. He was a professional basketball player in Turkish Leagues until his university years; however, an accident he had in a game ended his basketball career. His musical talent discovered after this accident by his mother Oya Ölçen, he began studying with Prof. Ova Sünder in 1994 and was admitted to Istanbul University State Conservatory the next year. In 1999, he was awarded the "Young Musician of the Year" by the Lions Club. After his graduation, he continued his studies with Seba Baştuğ Şen and Hüseyin Sermet. He began his master's degree in The City College of New York in 2009. He studied composition and conducting with Pulitzer prize winner composer David Del Tredici. He is also known for his radio program "Notada Yazmayanlar " with Memet Ali Alabora, which went on in the years 2001-2003. The purpose of the program was to introduce classical music to public and to discuss the upcomings in the classical music world. The program was invited to 32nd Istanbul International Music Festival in June 2004. Gamsızoğlu himself was also invited to 33rd IstanbulInternational Music Festival. In May 2008, he performed Goldberg Variations. This performance was the first of Goldberg Variations by a Turkish pianist, in Turkey. Gamsızoğlu is also well known for his chamber music collaborations with artists such as Chen Halevi, Marina Chiche, Natalie Clein and ensembles such as Belcea Quartet, Lepidus Quartet. He founded the Istanbul Trio in 2002 and the New Yorker Trio in 2013. He released an album named Alla Turca Around The World, that consists his own compositions in 2013. He worked with artists such as Burak Bilgili, Chen Halevi, Istanbul Trio, Erkin Arslan and Murat Cem Orhan for his album. In 2014 he started the song and chamber music concert series under the name of Schubertiades at the 31-year-old West Village cafe; Caffe Vivaldi. Currently a resident of 86th Street, while his wife Ege Maltepe is a Fulbright Scholar who studied acting with Mike Nichols and George Morrison in New York.
