Special concert for Ahmet Kanneci

ANKARA

His is one of the first names that comes to mind when one mentions classical guitar in Turkey. Now, Ahmet Kanneci is being recognized for 40 years of service to the arts in Turkey.

Kanneci will be honored for his four decades in music with an event at 8 p.m. on April 20 at the Hacettepe University Central Campus’ M Hall as part of the ongoing 34h International Ankara Music Festival. Kanneci will also appear on stage for guitar lovers. 

Born in 1957, Kanneci started his music education with a leading Turkish composer, Turgay Erdener. He also learned harmony and counterpoint from İtemihan Taviloğlu and Ali Sevgi. After meeting Julian Byzantine in 1977, he turned his attention to classical guitar. 

Four years later, he graduated from the Department of Architecture and was awarded a scholarship from the Spanish government to study with José Tomás at the Conservatorio Superior de Música Óscar Esplá de Alicante. He also had the privilege of playing for Alirio Diaz and receiving his critical acclaim.

When he returned to Turkey, Kanneci was the first to found classical guitar departments at four different conservatories. In 1993, he was awarded with a Fulbright scholarship for lifetime achievement in art.

Kanneci has taken the stage in Europe, Asia and the Americas at various concert halls such as Museo Andrés Segovia (Spain), Carnegie Hall (United States), Merkin Concert Hall (U.S.), Royal Festival Hall (United Kingdom) and Teatro Colón (Argentina). 

Besides solo guitar concerts, he has performed as part of a duo with several artists such as Victor Pikaizen, Ayhan Erman, Jorge Cardoso, Selva Erdener, Dorothy Randolph, Şefika Kutluer, Ekrem Öztan, Hiroki Terashima, Javier Garcia Moreno and Diler Argat. 

Kanneci is currently the chairman of the Department of Guitar at Hacettepe University State Conservatory and provides guitar courses at Sevda - Cenap AND Music Foundation in Ankara.