Kudsi Erguner came from a family of musicians. His father Ulvi and grandfather Suleyman Erguner are among the most famous ney players. Suleyman Erguner Dede was a pupil of Emin Dede (1883–1945), himself a pupil of Aziz Dede (1840–1905) and Hüseyin Fahreddin Dede (1854–1911). Kudsi Erguner thus had the opportunity to rub shoulders with the musical greats from the older generation and used his time with them to immerse himself in an authentic style reflecting centuries of musical tradition that he keeps alive today.

In Turkey, he has also been a member of the Radio Istanbul orchestra and established groups to perform styles of near-abandoned music following a steady cultural modernization movement in the country.

Since 1990, his concerts during the Istanbul Music Festival have awakened a growing interest among the young Turkish generation and played a key role in an enthusiastic return to the traditional arts, particularly those linked to Sufism. Since, a growing number of young Turkish musicians, especially ney players, have attempted to follow in his artistic footsteps.

In 1975, he moved to Paris to study architecture and musicology and successfully acquired his diplomas and master’s degrees. He also broadened his knowledge of Indian and Pakistani repertoires.

In 1981, he created the Roumi association there where he teaches Sufi tradition and art music based on tradition. He gives regular lectures on Sufism and music around the world and currently leads two small communities involved in the Mevlevi (Whirling Dervishes) tradition in Paris and Istanbul.

Kudsi Erguner has performed in a series of concerts in both the USA and Europe, introducing Western audiences to Ottoman art music and Istanbul Sufi music. Artistic advisor at numerous festivals and a record producer at various European labels, he has made a huge contribution to establishing this music in the international cultural heritage and, in turn, in Turkey.

His albums released in Europe, the USA, Japan and Turkey now form a vast catalogue showcasing his performances and creativity and presenting many different facets of Ottoman music.

Kudsi Erguner has broadened his horizons in international artistic collaborations for film scores, plays and ballet. With his group, he has initiated encounters and fusions with classic, jazz and contemporary musicians, including Robert Wilson, Peter Brook, Carolyn Carlson, Maurice Béjart, Peter Gabriel, Tony Gatliff, Georges Aperghis, Didier Lockwood, Michel Portal, Alexandre Desplat, Markus Stockhausen, Nusret Fethi Ali Khan, Jordi Savall, Ensemble Lycourgous Angelopoulos, New Ensemble, Marc Minkowski, Fazil Say, Mehmet Ulusoy, Christophe Lauer, Michel Godard, Renaud Garcia-Fons, Bartabas, Sarkis, Anouar Brahem and more.

As well as two honorary doctorates from Bülent Ecevit University in 2014 and the University of Skopje (Macedonia) in 2018, he was named UNESCO Artist for Peace in July 2016. As well as his concerts and activities, he now teaches modal music at Codarts Rotterdam. He is also behind the Ensemble Birun at the Cini Foundation in Venice where he leads yearly masterclasses.

 A tireless musician with a thousand facets, Kudsi Erguner has dedicated his life to showcasing and disseminating classic Ottoman music in both the East and West. This relentless working life has made him a role model for the young generation.

With his talent and sensitivity, he has gathered highly eclectic audiences with classic, popular, international and intergenerational repertoires.