A master of the violin: The artistic journey of Suna Kan

Two years have passed since the death of world-renowned violin virtuoso and retired Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO) soloist Prof. Dr. Suna Kan.

Known as a "Wonder Child" due to her talent discovered at a young age, Suna Kan was born in Adana on October 21, 1936. Kan began her violin training at the age of 5 by taking lessons from her father, and later studied under master violinists such as Hulusi Karsel, Walter Gerhardt, Gilbert Back, and Liko Amar.

With a talent that resonated deeply in the music world, she gave her first concert at the age of 9, performing Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5. The following year, at the age of 10, she earned the title of "Wonder Child" by performing the same piece at a recital at the Ankara State Conservatory.

In 1948, through a special law enacted by the government of the time, she was supported with a state scholarship to study abroad alongside pianist İdil Biret.

GRADUATED FROM THE PARIS CONSERVATORY WITH HIGHEST HONORS

Graduating from the conservatory with highest honors in 1952 as a student of Gabriel Bouillon, Suna Kan achieved great success in international competitions: she won first prize in Geneva in 1954, second prize in Viotti in 1955, and second prize in Munich in 1956.

She returned to Turkey in 1957 and became a soloist with the CSO. She gave concerts across the country with the violin-piano duo she formed with Ferhunde Erkin. Later, she maintained an artistic partnership with Gülay Uğurata that lasted for 29 years.

In the 1970s, she founded the Ankara Chamber Orchestra with Gürer Aykal and Faruk Güvenç. With this orchestra, she gave more than 100 concerts abroad and made significant recordings.

PASSED AWAY ON JUNE 11, 2023, AT THE AGE OF 87

One of Turkey's most important violin virtuosos, Suna Kan served as the concertmaster and soloist of the Ankara Chamber Orchestra between 1977 and 1986. Awarded the "Sevda-Cenap And Music Foundation Honorary Gold Medal" in 1996, Kan was a leading interpreter of violin works by Turkish composers.

The artist, who passed away on June 11, 2023, at the age of 87, was laid to rest at the Karşıyaka Cemetery following a ceremony at the Kocatepe Mosque. Every October, the "Suna Kan Violin Days" are organized in collaboration with the Ankara State Conservatories Association, the Çankaya Municipality, and the Sevda-Cenap And Music Foundation.

News Source: AA