Ozan Aksoy

Musician and ethnomusicologist Ozan Aksoy’s destiny was set with his birth name, Ozan, an ancient title for mystical bards in West Asia. As a child growing up in Turkey, he first learned to play the bağlama or saz (a long-necked lute) from his father and soon demonstrated remarkable breadth as a multi-instrumentalist, becoming proficient in many of the string, woodwind, and percussive instruments of the region. He developed a passion for the music of ethnic and religious minorities in his country, including the Kurds, Armenians, Laz, and Alevi. Later, at Bosphorus University in Istanbul, as an early member of the critically acclaimed ensemble Kardeş Türküler (meaning Ballads of Solidarity), Aksoy and his colleagues performed the songs of these unrecognized and suppressed peoples, pushing the boundaries of inclusion in Turkey. During his time with the group, the ensemble released four albums and toured extensively throughout Europe, spreading its message of diversity and acceptance. Aksoy then relocated to the United States to complete a doctorate in ethnomusicology and further develop his multicultural repertoire. He holds a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the CUNY Graduate Center and has taught at Columbia University, New York University, Hunter College, and CUNY, before coming to Berklee College of Music. Aksoy is an avid vocalist and a multi-instrumentalist who has founded and led several Middle Eastern and Mediterranean music ensembles. The instruments he plays professionally and teaches are the saz, ney, kaval, oud, lavta, ukulele, fretless guitar, and Turkish percussion.