Yiğit Deriga Awarded First Place in Film Scoring Category in New York

Yiğit Deriga, a lecturer from our university’s Conservatory of Turkish Music Department, has achieved a major success at the Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards, one of the world’s most prestigious film music competitions. Deriga, the first person from Türkiye to become a finalist in this international competition, secured first place in the main category of film scoring.

At the awards ceremony, held at the Avon Theatre – Deborah & Chuck Royce Arts Center in New York, excerpts from the finalists’ compositions were presented to the audience. At the end of the evening, it was announced that Yiğit Deriga had won first place in the film scoring category.

The award, presented by Hamlisch’s wife, Terre Blair Hamlisch, was given to Deriga at the competition, which was organized to honor the legacy of the famous composer Marvin Hamlisch. Deriga also received a special certificate of achievement from American Senator Richard Blumenthal.

Yiğit Deriga, who expressed pride in representing Türkiye on an international platform, shared his feelings with these words:

“I am very proud to have been selected for such a prestigious awards ceremony from Türkiye and to have returned with first place. Introducing my work to the world is not only a personal achievement but also very valuable for promoting Turkish musicians and Turkish music at a universal level. It is a great pleasure for me to be able to contribute to art on behalf of my country.”

The Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards were created to discover and support young, emerging composers. Launched in 2013 as the “Marvin Hamlisch Film Scoring Contest” to honor Hamlisch’s legacy in art and the development of young talent, the competition was restructured in 2019 to expand its scope. It now includes categories for film scoring, musical theater, classical composition, jazz, and, since 2021, contemporary pop and R&B.

By representing Türkiye on this international stage, Deriga has once again highlighted both his personal success and the universal value of Turkish music.