Kanun and Cello Duo Concert and Pre-Show Masterclass

The collaboration between Sedef Erçetin and Tahir Aydoğdu, which blends the cello and kanun, represents a rare effort to unify Turkish classical music with Western classical traditions. In this master class, the kanun—traditionally the centerpiece of Turkish classical and folk music—transcends its roots to perform an extraordinary repertoire alongside the cello. Erçetin and Aydoğdu present a vibrant program spanning from the Baroque era to the modern day, offering a spectacular and colorful "audial perspective." Their performance seamlessly bridges cultures, featuring masterpieces by Western composers like Bach, Vivaldi, and Satie, alongside the evocative works of Turkish-Anatolian legends such as Âşık Veysel and Tanburi Cemil Bey.

Erçetin is a distinguished Istanbul-born, Paris-based cellist celebrated for her extraordinary ability to traverse the boundaries between classical, jazz, tango, and traditional Turkish music.

After beginning her studies at the Istanbul University State Conservatory and moving to France at 17 to attend the École Normale de Musique de Paris, she established herself as a versatile soloist and collaborator, famously performing in Roman Polanski’s film Bitter Moon and joining forces with luminaries like Argentine tango master Juan Carlos Cáceres and jazz vocalist Liz McComb.

Her commitment to cultural fusion is masterfully reflected in her long-standing partnership with kanun virtuoso Aydoğdu, with whom she creates a unique dialogue between Western classical cello and the traditional maqams of Turkish music.

A passionate cultural ambassador, Erçetin made history in 1999 as the first cellist to receive the Abdi İpekçi Peace and Friendship Prize—shared with her long-time Greek duo partner, pianist Maria Papapetropoulou—for their efforts in fostering Greek-Turkish relations through art.

Whether interpreting the solo suites of Bach or exploring the rhythmic depths of milonga, her career remains defined by a deep-seated belief in music as a universal language that thrives on curiosity and cross-border connection.

Aydoğdu is a virtuosic kanun player who uniquely bridges a background in physics from Middle East Technical University with a deep musical lineage inherited from his father, Gültekin Aydoğdu, a distinguished kanun player at TRT Ankara Radio.

Since joining the TRT Ankara Radio Turkish Music Ensemble in 1983, he has become a global cultural ambassador, performing extensively across the US, Europe, and Asia with groups like the Modern Folk Trio and the ASIAMINOR Jazz Ensemble.

In 1999 Aydoğdu established the Ensemble Ancyra, with an aim to present the music of different countries in both jazz and world music forms. A prolific recording artist and collaborator, Aydoğdu has contributed to landmark ballet productions like Afife and Harem, and he holds the rare distinction of being only the second musician to perform Ferit Alnar’s historic Kanun Concerto.

His dedication to cross-genre innovation is masterfully showcased in his long-standing partnership with cellist Sedef Erçetin, in which the duo explores a sophisticated dialogue between traditional Turkish maqams and Western classical textures.