Artist Çetin Körükçü has passed away

Singer Umut Akyürek announced that musician Çetin Körükçü has passed away.

'I AM VERY SAD'

Akyürek stated, "Turkish music has lost another master. My dear teacher Çetin Körükçü has passed on to the afterlife. I am very sad; I wish patience for our community and his wife, my dear sister Nesrin Körükçü."

WHO IS ÇETİN KÖRÜKÇÜ?

Turkish art music vocalist Çetin Körükçü was born on June 5, 1948, in Gaziantep. After completing primary school in Gaziantep and secondary education at Vefa High School in Istanbul, he entered the Istanbul University Faculty of Economics in 1969.

During this time, he continued his musical studies, which had begun during his high school years. He started his first serious musical work in 1969 at the Üsküdar Music Society with Emin Ongan, and after continuing for two years, he also took private lessons from Nazmi Atlığ for two years.

Starting in 1970, he began working with Dr. Teoman Önaldı at the Advanced Turkish Music Conservatory Association, and after Önaldı left due to professional obligations in 1974, he took over the management of the choir. He directed the choir's programs and all concerts at the TRT Istanbul Radio, performing approximately 150 times to date.

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

In 1976, he passed the exam opened by the Ministry of Culture and joined the Istanbul State Classical Turkish Music Choir, the first Turkish Music Choir established by the state, where he began working with many masters such as Prof. Dr. Nevzat Atlığ, Necdet Yaşar, Cüneyt Kosal, and Mefharet Yıldırım. For 26 years, he participated in all domestic and international concerts of this choir as a soloist and chorister.

In 1976, the State Conservatory of Turkish Music, the first conservatory in the history of Turkish music and now affiliated with Istanbul Technical University, was established. Çetin Körükçü entered this conservatory as a student to realize his ideals. He graduated in 1980 and, after passing the required exam, began working as a faculty member.

Starting in 1985, he began performing duets with Nesrin Körükçü, whom he married in 1976. Together, they gave numerous concerts both domestically and abroad, produced radio and television programs, and released LPs and CDs. He gave concerts at many universities in Turkey and abroad, worked to promote Turkish music accurately, participated in symposiums, and presented papers. He received invitations from various organizations and gave lectures.

Starting in 1974, he managed the Air Force Academy's Turkish Music Club activities for approximately 15 years and became an assistant professor in 1989. In 1996, following an offer from the Universal company, he prepared a CD series titled "Bir Şarkıdır Yaşamak" (Living is a Song). This series, in which he served as director and soloist, consisted of 27 CDs featuring 400 works and was completed in 3 years. This series participated in international fairs and was accepted as a source publication by Harvard University.

In 1998, his book titled "Turkish Art Music," a general culture book that every art lover could consult, was published. That same year, it was distributed by its publisher, Hürriyet Yayıncılık A.Ş., as a cultural service of the Hürriyet newspaper with a different cover design.

In 1999, he was appointed as a member of the "Art Board" of the Ministry of Culture's Istanbul State Classical Turkish Music Choir. Between 2000 and 2002, he prepared and hosted a weekly live Turkish music program titled "Bir Şarkıdır Yaşamak" on Flash TV with Nesrin Körükçü.

In 2002, upon receiving an invitation to serve as the Director of the T.C. Haliç University Conservatory, he requested his retirement and left his position at the State Classical Turkish Music Choir.

Çetin Körükçü passed away on January 16, 2024.

News Source: 12punto