Dilek Zertunç

Dilek Zertunç was born in Istanbul in 1969. She studied Western Classical music with Necati Giray and Turkish music with Hüsnü Özenen at Istanbul Technical University, Turkish Music State Conservatory. She also studied cello with Prof. Reşit Erzin at Mimar Sinan State Conservatory and Prof. Selma Gökçen at Royal Academy. During her education, Zertunç also studied with Necdet Varol, Göksel Baykut, Demirhan Altuğ, Yalçın Tura, Tülin Korman, Faris Akarsu, Münir Nurettin Beken and İhsan Özer. Zertunç served as a string instruments player in the TRT Istanbul Radio Classic Turkish Music Group from 1988 to 1998. She also performed with the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra in many concerts. During 1988-1989, Zertunç gave concerts with the Bosphorus group in many cities in Greece. In those years, she joined the group “Altın Kızlar”. In 1991, she graduated from the Department of String Instruments at the Conservatory. In the same year, she attended the special workshop in Çanakkale, Ezine and received a master’s class certificate from Helmut Rocholl. Zertunç taught at the Department of Turkish Music in TRT Istanbul Radio between 1993 and 1998. In 1994, she attended Prof. Alexander Rudin’s master class. In 1993-1996, she gave many concerts with Istanbul University State Symphony Orchestra, which were conducted by Yebgeni Samilov. In 1998, Zertunç performed with the Classical Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which was conducted by Joseph Glymph in Chicago. While staying in the US, she attended the workshop of Prof. Janos Straker at Indiana University. In addition, she attended Yo Yo Ma’s summer class at the Julliard School of Music in New York. In 1999, Zerdunç returned to Turkey and served as an educational adviser at the Pera Fine Arts for a year. She then worked as a cellist in the Tango Orchestra and TRT Turkish Music Department. In 2002, Zertunç served as a group conductor with Erşad Baghirov in the Bakırköy Municipality İspirtohane Chamber Orchestra; with Nail Yavuzoğlu in the Pop Jazz Orchestra. In 2004, she worked for the program “Müziğimiz ve Kültürümüz” in the TRT 2 channel. In 2005, under the name of “Birlikte Yaşamak” (living together), Zertunç gave concerts with the Turkish, Armenian and Greek Community in 6 cities of Holland and Belgium. In the same year, she worked for the TRT program “Alaturka”, which was the contest of Turkish Music composition. Currently, Zertunç continues playing string instruments in TRT Istanbul Radio Turkish Music and the Tango Orchestra. In the same time, she has given many concerts and recitals of Western Classical Music and Turkish Music in Turkey and abroad.

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