Burak Ekmekçi

Burak Ekmekçi is a Turkish bağlama (long-necked lute) artist and composer known for his unique fusion of traditional Anatolian folk music with contemporary jazz and world music styles. He began his musical journey at the age of five, nurtured by a musically rich family environment, and received formal training in bağlama, Turkish repertoire, harmony, and folk dance music at Kadıköy Public Education Center in Istanbul.
A graduate of Kocaeli University State Conservatory with a master’s degree from Haliç University, Burak studied under prominent Turkish music masters such as Çetin Akdeniz, Yücel Paşmakçı, and Mehmet Erenler. His early success includes winning the TRT Istanbul Radio Youth Choir competition in 2010 as a bağlama soloist.
Burak has performed at numerous national and international festivals as both a performer and artistic director. He has also appeared as a soloist with the Colors of Turkey Orchestra. Since moving to Toronto in 2019, he has expanded his musical reach, performing with ensembles such as the Labyrinth Ontario Ensemble, the Toronto Arab Orchestra, and the Canadian Asian Orchestra.
As the founder of the Burak Ekmekçi Quartet, he explores innovative projects that blend Turkish folk melodies with jazz improvisation. His work has been featured at the ICFF – IncluCity Film Festival, where he reinterpreted classic Turkish film scores and presented original compositions. In addition to performing, Burak contributes to cultural exchange by conducting workshops on Turkish music modes (makams) and serves as a bağlama instructor at the Turkish Society of Canada and the Yunus Emre Institute in Toronto.
Burak Ekmekçi continues to build musical bridges between East and West, offering audiences a mesmerizing sound rooted in Anatolian tradition and shaped by his global artistic vision.