Hasan Isakkut

Hasan ISAKKUT was born in Adana, Turkey. His father being an ud player, Hasan started learning how to play
the kanun and the violin when he was 8. At the age of 18, he continued his music life in Istanbul and worked with
renowned musicians and singers. He was 26 when he went to Vienna and Frankfurt to work as a musician.   

After spending two years in Europe, he moved to New York in 1989 to pursue his childhood dream. As a composer and
an instrumentalist, he worked with Brian Keane, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Simon Shaheen, 
Richie Haven, Ara Dinkjian,
Arto Tunçboyacıyan in joint projects in performance venues like Carnegie Hall. 
Hasan’s one of the most renowned
compositions ‘’I love you’’ was included in Omar Faruk Tekbilek’s album 
called “One Truth and an album called
Buddha Bar Volume 2 released in 2000 also included Hasan’s composition.

A Turkish Art Music Singer Muazzez Ersoy performed Hasan’s composition in her album named ‘’Seni Seviyorum’’,
which translates to Turkish as ‘’I love you’’. In 2011, a worldwide known Turkish clarinet player Hüsnü Şenlendirici
also played this song in his album named “Hüsn-ü HicazIsakkut was also the music director of a well-known
Turkish music drama, “Kanlı Nigar”
which was staged in Town Hall Theatre-Broadway in 2008. He performed
as a violinist in a Turkish musical named “
Hisseli Harikalar Kumpanyası” by
Haldun Dormen, which was staged in Beacon Theatre-Broadway in 2009.

As a kanun player, violinist and a composer, he has presented a music series of Middle Eastern Jazz, Classical Turkish
Music and new age with his albums “
Kibar” (2005) and “Hayat 1 Hayat” (2009). Six of his well-known compositions were
re-arranged and released in an instrumental album called “
Hegira” in 2013, including 4 compositions of Ara Dinkjian.
Other precious musicians in the album are Ercan Irmak (ney -flute- player) and Chris Rosser (pianist and arranger).

​His recent album called “Journey” was launched in February 2020 and can be listened on Spotify.
Hasan Isakkut is a member of MSG (a union to protect royalties of authors, composers, arrangers, and publishers in Turkey) and
ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), and his compositions have been performed by international
artists all over the world. Along with making music, Hasan Isakkut also gives kanun lessons in international music camps.

TO  CONTACT HASAN ISAKKUT :​ hasanisakkut@gmail.com