Classical Music News

Turkish Violinist Ayla Erduran has Died, Aged 90

January 8, 2025

2 MIN READ

Erduran was one of the most recognized Turkish violinists, with a decades long performing career

Born in 1936, Turkish violinist Ayla Erduran graduated from the Paris Conservatory and studied with Hungarian virtuoso Karl Berger from a young age.

Later, she was mentored by legendary artists including Ivan Galamian, Zino Francescatti, and David Oistrakh.

Making her debut at age 11, she was among the top six laureates at the 1957 edition of the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition.

In 1958, she premiered Ulvi Cemal Erkin’s Violin Concerto in Brussels, with Queen Elisabeth of Belgium in attendance. She was also the first soloist to perform Elgar’s Violin Concerto in Turkey.

Honored as a State Artist by the Republic of Turkey in 1971, she appeared with such orchestras as the London Symphony, the London Philharmonic, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Berlin RIAS, the Czech Philharmonic, and Turkey’s Presidential Symphony Orchestra.

Among her other accolades include the Harriet Cohen–Olga Verney Award and the Beethoven Award from the Netherlands.

As an educator, she taught in Lausanne, Switzerland, from 1973 to 1990. Following this time, she returned permanently to Istanbul.

Violinist Veriko Tchumburidze wrote on social media, "I am deeply saddened to learn that the legendary Ayla Erduran, one of Turkey’s most extraordinary violinists, has passed away. I have known her since I was eight years old. She was not only a remarkable artist but also a genuinely warm and kind soul, with a lifetime of incredible stories and an inspiring artistic legacy. May she rest in peace."