Turkish classical music artist Çetin Körükçü laid to rest

Körükçü's family announced that the artist, who had been battling cancer for a long time, succumbed to his illness and passed away yesterday.

The artist's funeral prayer was held today following the noon prayer at the Ömer Duruk Mosque in Ataköy, and he was laid to rest at the Büyükçekmece Cemetery.

"WE HAVE LOST A GREAT VALUE WHO DEDICATED HIS HEART TO MUSIC"

Speaking to an AA reporter, his student Kıvanç Terzioğlu stated that he met Körükçü 22 years ago and said, "I am very happy, lucky, and proud to have been his student at the Advanced Turkish Music Conservatory. He always had a saying that became a light for me. He used to say that in the art community, some look at the ceiling, while others look at the floor. It was truly like that; I realized this over time, years later. We have lost a great value who dedicated his heart to music. Our condolences to all of us."

WHO IS ÇETİN KÖRÜKÇÜ?

Born in Gaziantep in 1948, Çetin Körükçü completed his primary education in Gaziantep and his secondary education at Vefa High School in Istanbul. He entered the Faculty of Economics at Istanbul University in 1969, while continuing the musical studies he had begun during his high school years.

Körükçü began his first serious musical studies in 1969 at the Üsküdar Music Society with Emin Ongan, continuing for two years. Later, he took private lessons from Nazmi Atlığ for two years.

After placing in a competition organized by the Hafta Sonu newspaper in 1969, he released his first record, and by 1974, he had released 23 45-rpm records and one LP.

Körükçü passed the exam opened by the Ministry of Culture in 1976 and joined the Istanbul State Classical Turkish Music Choir, the first Turkish music choir established by the state, and participated in all of the choir's domestic and international concerts for 26 years.

The musician, who entered the conservatory to realize his goals regarding music, became a lecturer at Istanbul Technical University after passing an exam following his graduation in 1980.

Körükçü began performing duets with his wife, Nesrin Körükçü, in 1985. Together, they gave numerous concerts both domestically and abroad, produced radio and television programs, and released records and CDs.

The artist, who gave concerts at many universities both in Turkey and abroad, participated in symposiums and presented papers to promote Turkish music accurately.

Körükçü, who directed the Turkish Music Club activities at the Air Force Academy for 15 years, became an assistant professor in 1989.

News Source: AA