BIO

Mehmet Baturay Yarkın (DMA) – Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Academician

A versatile and accomplished pianist, Baturay Yarkın has performed on prestigious stages around the world, from Aya Irini in İstanbul to renowned festivals and concert halls across Europe, the USA, and beyond. His music transcends genres, blending classical, jazz, tango, and Ottoman/Turkish folk traditions.

Early Life and Education

Born into a family of musicians, Baturay Yarkın was immersed in music from an early age. He resides in İstanbul, a city rich in cultural and historical heritage. At the age of seven, he won first place in the part-time Classical Piano program at Istanbul University State Conservatory. By twelve, he had earned third place in the European Young Pianists Competition, studying under Prof. Meral Yapalı. His academic journey encompasses classical music, jazz, Argentine tango, Turkish music, and composition, culminating in a doctorate (DMA) from İstanbul University State Conservatory in 2022.

He performed at Aya Irini in 2011 as part of Ara Dinkjian and His Friends. During his high school and university years, he performed with Yarkın Rhythm Group, collaborating with the İstanbul State Symphony Orchestra for the 2013 Turkish–China Year in China.

Jazz

Baturay’s passion for jazz led him to the Rotterdam Conservatory, Codarts, where he studied world & jazz music and collaborated with international musicians. He attended workshops by Chick Corea, Eric Alexander, Barry Harris, and others, and represented Codarts at the Pop and Jazz Platform 2016 in Rotterdam, organized by the European Association of Conservatoires (AEC).

He performed at major festivals such as the Akbank Jazz Festival and İstanbul Jazz Festival, and prestigious venues including Borusan Music House, CRR, İş Sanat, Zorlu PSM, AKM and CSO Ada Ankara. The hands of the artist were molded during the creation process of the sculptures with the slogan of Hands Touching Jazz for the 26th İstanbul Jazz Festival.

The Colours of Anatolia

Through his project The Colours of Anatolia, Baturay combines jazz and Turkish music in collaboration with his sister and the Baturay Yarkın Trio. Sponsored by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the ensemble performed in 15 universities across Türkiye and at international jazz festivals in Monaco, France, Montenegro, and the Netherlands.

Tango

Tango became a defining feature of his musical identity. He studied Argentine tango at Codarts, attended workshops with Color Tango, Los Reyes del Tango, and Gustavo Beytelmann, and contributed to Şevval Sam’s 2013 Tango album. He performed extensively with OTRA in the Netherlands, and in Türkiye with ensembles such as the Istanbul Classical Orchestra and TangEsta. The latter took part in various cities in Turkey, prestigious 15. tanGO TO Istanbul in Turkey, Grand Night Tango in Almati/Kazakhstan and in Sonido Tango Festival as the first tango orchestra from Turkey which performed in Argentina. He played for ‘A New Year’s Concert from Louis Armstrong to Astor Piazzolla’ conducted by Dr. Nail Yavuzoğlu.

He arranged tangos for the albums of Turkish singers Jülide Bilgi and Ezgi Köker, and participated in concerts series Taş Plaklardaki Unutulmuş Şarkılar I-II at Zorlu PSM Turkcell Stage.

Yarkın Duo and Collaborations

In 2016, Baturay and his sister, Nağme Yarkın, launched Yarkın Duo, releasing their debut album One. Their repertoire spans Argentine tangos, Turkish folk music, original compositions, and improvisations. The duo has performed internationally at festivals including TURfest Croatia, Boston Turkish Film Festival, Turquazz Festival London, Jazz in Albania Festival, ‘Alaturka Jazz’ night in Kosova and the Granville Island Music Festival in Vancouver. Starting 2025, Yarkın Duo evolves into a quartet with Norwegian siblings Julie & Andreas, exploring themes of love and siblinghood through music.

Baturay has collaborated with world-renowned musicians through the Silk Road Global Musician Workshop, giving special concerts in Milano as a European Ambassador and performing in the USA as part of Yarkın Duo.

Teaching and Legacy

Baturay served as a Lecturer in Jazz Piano, Theory, and History at Istanbul University State Conservatory between 2018 and 2024. He has released nine albums as a bandleader, all available on digital platforms, and continues to inspire the next generation of musicians while maintaining an active international performance career.

His collaborations include distinguished artists such as Erkan Oğur, Sandeep Das, Ara Dinkjian, Wu Man, Arto Tunçboyacıyan, Shane Shanahan, Eric St. Laurent, Giovanni Perin, Sibel Köse, Ferit Odman, and Javadoff. In December 2025, he performed a special Christmas concert with the Günay Acar Ensemble, attended by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

Baturay Yarkın

STUDY

  • Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), Jazz Department
    Istanbul University State Conservatory, 2018–2022

  • Master of Jazz-Tango Piano (Erasmus Exchange Program)
    Codarts University for the Arts, 2015–2016

  • Master of Music, Music Theory and Composition
    Istanbul Technical University, 2013–2017

  • Certificate Program, Jazz Department
    Bahcesehir University, 2013–2015

  • Bachelor of Music (Part Time), Piano Department
    Istanbul University State Conservatory, 1998–2010

  • Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering
    Marmara University, 2009–2013

THESES & ARTICLES

Theses

Articles

DISCOGRAPHY

  • Baturay Yarkın Trio & Nağme Yarkın – Our Ballads (2026)
  • Cemre Necefbaş – I Thought About You (2026)
  • Cemre Necefbaş – Just My Luck (2026)
  • Taş Plaklardaki Unutulmuş Şarkılar (2026) 📀
  • Baturay Yarkın Trio & Nağme Yarkın – Magnolia (2025)
  • Baturay Yarkın Trio – Sleepless Night (2025)
  • Hakan Kılıçoğlu – Time Flies (2025)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Solo Ballads (In Memory of Aydın Balpınar) (2025) 📀
  • Baturay Yarkın – Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye (2025)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Darn That Dream (2025)
  • Baturay Yarkın – I Fall in Love Too Easily (2025)
  • Baturay Yarkın Trio & Nağme Yarkın – For Justice (2025)
  • ViolinCello – Valse Istanbul (2025)
  • Hakan Kılıçoğlu – Breeze (2025)
  • Baha Yetkin – Uzak Diyarlar (2025)
  • Baturay Yarkın Trio & Nağme Yarkın – Dream Again (2024) 📀
  • Ozbi – Olduğum Gibi (Studio Live) (2024) 📀
  • Baturay Yarkın – My Foolish Heart (2024)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Lush Life (2024)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Someone to Watch Over Me (2024)
  • Nağme Yarkın – Vaveyla (2024)
  • Işıl Kahraman – Sustu Sözler (2024)
  • Ayşem Ersoy – Se Valiente (2024)
  • TangEsta – Dos (2024)
  • TangEsta – Mas (2024)
  • TangEsta – Tangos de Estambul (2024)
  • Çiğdem Çelik – Mavi (2024)
  • Baturay Yarkın Trio & Nağme Yarkın – Fiery Desert (2023)
  • Baturay Yarkın Trio & Nağme Yarkın – Quarantine (2023)
  • Baturay Yarkın Trio & Nağme Yarkın – Dream Again (2023)
  • Yarkın Duo – Diyar (2023)
  • Jiyar & Baturay Yarkın – Intizar (2023)
  • Işıl Kahraman – Yalnızca Gölgeler Var (2023)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Inside (2022) 📀
  • TangEsta & Bahar Sarıboğa – Sahibini Arayan Tangolar (2022) 📀
  • Sanat Deliorman – Aşk Kumbarası (2022) 📀
  • Baturay Yarkın Trio & Nağme Yarkın – Üsküdar’a Gider İken (Live) (2022)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Evidence (2022)
  • Evrencan Gündüz – Yavrum (2022)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Just Keep Going (2022)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Sleep (2022)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Dream (2022)
  • Evrencan Gündüz – Kesso (2022)
  • Fide – Gel (2022)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Hope (2021) 📀
  • Jülide Bilgi – Buselik Mavisi (2021) 📀
  • Atakan Akdaş – Selahattin Pınar Şarkıları (2021) 📀
  • Ehsan Matoori & Alireza Ghorbani – The Voices and Bridges (2021) 📀
  • Baturay Yarkın – Calm (2021)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Quarantine (2021)
  • Baturay Yarkın Trio & Nağme Yarkın – Autumn Leaves (Live) (2021)
  • Işıl Kahraman – İç Hayata (2021)
  • Işıl Kahraman – Hayali Katmanlar (2021)
  • Işıl Kahraman – Ne Öyleyim Ne Böyleyim (2021)
  • Yarkın Duo – Quintessence (2020) 📀
  • Erkan Zeki Ar – Tecelli (2020) 📀
  • Yarkın Duo – Longing (Fire) (2020)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Lost & Found (2020)
  • Burak Cihangirli – For One (2020)
  • Baturay Yarkın Trio & Nağme Yarkın – The Colors of Anatolia (2019) 📀
  • Dolunay Obruk – Entropi (2019) 📀
  • Baturay Yarkın – Breathe Once Again (2019)
  • Baha Yetkin – The Pearl (2019)
  • Baturay Yarkın – Su (2018) 📀
  • Baturay Yarkın & Gürtuğ Gök – Blue Love (2018)
  • Veys’s Jazzy World – Pirate Jenny (2018)
  • Yarkın Duo – One (2017) 📀
  • Tangesta – Tangueros de Estambul (2017) 📀
  • Şevket Akıncı – Escher Chronicles (2017) 📀
  • Eli ft. Yarkın Duo – Waltz of the Moon (2017)
  • Ali Rıza Kural – Sevdiklerimin Sevdikleri (2016) 📀
  • Smart Business – Make It Happen (2016)
  • İsmail Birateş – Yahya Kemal & Nazım Hikmet (2015) 📀
  • Şevval Sam – Tango (2013) 📀