Ulvi Cemal Erkin

About Ulvi Cemal Erkin

Ulvi Cemal Erkin was born in Istanbul on 14 March 1906 and died in Ankara on 15 September 1972. He is one of the five pioneer composers in Turkey all born between 1904 and 1910 and subsequently known as The Turkish Five.

At the age of 19, he was awarded a music scholarship and consequently travelled to France to study piano and composition at the Paris Conservatoire and the École Normale de Musique. Erkin was a pupil of Nadia Boulanger, Isidor Philippe und Jean and Noël Gallon. He returned to Turkey after concluding his studies and was appointed as professor at the Conservatory in Ankara at the early age of 24. During his musical career, Erkin was active not only as a composer but also as a conductor and music professor.

In 1932, he married the Turkish pianist Ferhunde Remzi who was a regular performer of his works, occasionally appeared in joint concerts with her husband and collaborated with him in his efforts supporting the encouragement and education of young musicians.