Derya Türkan

Derya Türkan is a contemporary master of the classical Turkish kemençe, renowned for his expressive playing and innovative blending of traditional Turkish music with global genres like jazz and classical music.

Born in Istanbul in 1973, Türkan grew up in a musical family and began his formal education at the Istanbul Technical University’s Turkish Music Conservatory at the age of 11, studying for a decade under the esteemed kemençe player İhsan Özgen. His prodigious talent was evident early on; by age 17, he was invited to join the Ministry of Culture’s Istanbul National Turkish Music Ensemble. He later became a permanent artist with the Turkish Radio Television (TRT) Istanbul Radio in 2000.
Throughout his career, Türkan has sought to expand the boundaries of the kemençe, drawing inspiration from the legacy of Tanburi Cemil Bey and exploring diverse musical dialogues. He has collaborated with a vast array of international artists, including Jordi Savall, Sir Simon Rattle, Renaud Garcia-Fons and Djivan Gasparyan. His discography is extensive, featuring albums such as Letters from Istanbul (with Sokratis Sinopoulos) and the critically acclaimed Silk Moon (with Renaud Garcia-Fons).
Beyond performing and composing, Türkan is a dedicated educator, conducting seminars at institutions worldwide, including Harvard University, MIT and the Labyrinth Musical Workshop in Crete. His contributions also extend to film, serving as a music director for the Turkish film Yahşi Batı and performing for the score of the Academy Award-winning film Argo.

With recent projects like the 2022 album Seyr-i Ahenk and Istanbul Kemençesi Vol. II released in 2024, Derya Türkan continues to be a formidable and influential force in world music, bridging cultural divides through his masterful command of his instrument. His latest achievement is being named a winner of the 2025 Aga Khan Music Awards.