Hasan ISAKKUT was born in Adana, Turkey in 1963. His father being an ud player, Hasan started learning how to play the kanun and the violin when he was 8. At the age of 18, he continued his music life in Istanbul and worked with renowned musicians and singers. He was 26 when he went to Vienna and Frankfurt to work as a musician.   

 

After spending two years in Europe, he moved to New York in 1989 to pursue his childhood dream. As a composer and an instrumentalist, he worked with Brian Keane, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Simon Shaheen, Richie Haven, Ara Dinkjian, Arto Tunçboyacıyan in joint projects in performance venues like Carnegie Hall. Hasan’s one of the most renowned compositions ‘’I love you’’ was included in Omar Faruk Tekbilek’s album called One Truth and an album called Buddha Bar Volume 2 released in 2000 also included Hasan’s composition. A Turkish Art Music Singer Muazzez Ersoy performed Hasan’s composition in her album named ‘’Seni Seviyorum’’, which translates to Turkish as ‘’I love you’’. In 2011, a worldwide known Turkish clarinet player Hüsnü Şenlendirici also played this song in his album named Hüsn-ü Hicaz.

 

Isakkut was also the music director of a well-known Turkish music drama, Kanlı Nigar, which was staged in Town Hall Theatre-Broadway in 2008. He performed as a violinist in a Turkish musical named Hisseli Harikalar Kumpanyası by Haldun Dormen, which was staged in Beacon Theatre-Broadway in 2009.

 

As a kanun player, violinist and a composer, he has presented a music series of Middle Eastern Jazz, Classical Turkish Music and new age with his albums "Kibar" (2005) and "Hayat 1 Hayat" (2009).

 

Six of his well-known compositions were re-arranged and released in an instrumental album called “Hegira” (exile) in 2013, including 4 compositions of Ara Dinkjian. Other precious musicians in the album are Ercan Irmak (ney (flute) player) and Chris Rosser (pianist and arranger).

 

Hasan Isakkut is a member of MSG (a union to protect royalties of authors, composers, arrangers, and publishers in Turkey) and ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), and his compositions have been performed by international artists all over the world.

 

Along with making music, Hasan Isakkut also gives kanun lessons in international music camps. Hasan Isakkut, who is fluent in both Turkish and English, is interested in playing music in national and international concerts.