Çetin Akdeniz

Çetin Akdeniz — Biography

Born September 15, 1967, in Istanbul, Çetin Akdeniz is one of the leading virtuosos of the Turkish bağlama, a long-necked lute central to Turkish folk music. He trained at the İTÜ Turkish Music State Conservatory and began his career playing on albums for well-known artists.

He later moved into releasing music under his own name, producing two albums, "Anadolu'da Ezgiler" and "Bağlama Virtüözü," through which he became known for a performance style that pushed the instrument beyond traditional melodies.

In his personal life, he married Ceren Tügen in July 2023, and he has continued to perform in concerts and recitals centered on the bağlama.