Prof. Dr.
EROL PARLAK
Between 1986 and 1990, he worked there as a lecturer.
In 1986, he passed the examination and was admitted to TRT Izmir Radio as an “accomplished artist,” but resigned from this position the same year.
Between 1987 and 1990, he completed his master's degree at Istanbul Technical University Social Sciences Institute with his thesis titled “Bozlaklar.”
In 1988, he joined TRT Istanbul Radio as an “accomplished artist” after passing the required examination. He resigned from this position in 1998 after serving for ten years.
Between 1992 and 1998, he completed his Proficiency in Art (Doctorate in Art) at the same institute with his dissertation titled “The Tradition and Performance Techniques of Playing the Baglama by Hand (Without Plectrum) in Turkey.”
For approximately ten years, he conducted extensive field research in various regions of Anatolia, particularly in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Anatolia, as well as the Teke Region. He carried out detailed studies on instrumental performance techniques and vocal styles, compiling nearly one thousand folk melodies.
Since the 1990s, he has given numerous concerts, conferences, seminars, and workshops—primarily in Europe but also in other parts of the world—at private institutions as well as universities, academies, and conservatories. He has participated in symposiums and congresses, presented papers, and published articles.
Beginning in 1995, he performed for approximately five years as a member of the Arif Sağ Trio, giving concerts both in Turkey and abroad. In 1996, under the patronage of German President Roman Herzog, he performed “Concerto for Baglama” with the Cologne Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall, and subsequently at the Berlin and Strasbourg Philharmonic Halls, as well as at numerous venues throughout Turkey. During the same period, he also performed at major concert halls in the Netherlands and Belgium as part of the “Plucked Instruments Festival.”
In early 2000, he formed the “Erol Parlak Baglama Quintet” with his students and gave many concerts in Turkey and abroad, appearing on television and radio programs. One of these concerts took place in 2008 at the Essen Philharmonic Hall. The group's album “Eşik” was released in Turkey in 2004 by Arda Müzik and in Germany in 2010 by Acoustic Music Records. On June 10, 2003, he gave a solo concert at the Amiens National Stage in France, and on June 12, 2003, he performed at Paris's renowned Théâtre de la Ville.
In June–July 2013, within the framework of the project “Masters of Turkish Music Concert – Yol,” he participated in concerts titled “Nefesler” together with Kudsi Erguner and Pierre Rigopoulos at various venues including the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Germany.
In 2016, he released the album “Bitmeyen Ağıt Çanakkale,” composed from anonymous poems, followed by concerts. In 2018, he released “Yunus Dilinden,” composed from the poems of Yunus Emre, and performed concerts including at the Presidential Complex Congress and Culture Center and the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall.
Between 2002 and 2006, he served as a lecturer at Yıldız Technical University, Faculty of Art and Design.
In 2006, he was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Musicology at Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music State Conservatory. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2008 and to Full Professor in 2014.
Since 2005, he has initiated and led pioneering projects such as the “ITU Baglama Days” and the “Nida Tüfekçi 1st International Baglama Symposium” (April 2012).
He has actively contributed to efforts to incorporate Anatolian Traditional Music Culture and the Baglama into universities and institutions around the world, particularly in Europe.
Between October 2015 and July 2016, within the framework of cooperation between Istanbul Technical University and King's College, he conducted field research with Prof. Dr. Martin Stokes on “Anatolian Traditional Music Culture and the Baglama among Turks Living in England,” and gave concerts.
On the TRT Müzik channel, he produced and presented the cultural arts programs “Usta İzler” (39 episodes, 2011–2013) and “Erol Parlak Müzik Atölyesi” (26 episodes, 2020–2021).
He has produced a total of twenty-one albums: nine solo, three instrumental, and nine collaborative.
His books include “The Tradition and Techniques of Playing the Baglama by Hand (Without Plectrum) in Turkey” (Ministry of Culture, 2000), “Şelpe Technique Method 1” (Ekin Publications, 2001), “Şelpe Technique Method 2” (Aktüel Publications, 2005), “Erol Parlak Baglama School – A Systematic Guide for Finger Technique (Şelpe)” (Acoustic Music Books, Germany, 2010), and “Garip Bülbül Neşet Ertaş” (Demos Publications, 2013; Ministry of Culture Publications, 2019).
In line with the tradition of Turkish Folk Poetry and minstrelsy, he produced numerous poems and folk songs under the pseudonym “Pervâne.” Some of these works, which he shared via social media, have been included in the albums of many artists.
On July 1, 2017, he pioneered the establishment of Ankara Music and Güzel Sanatlar University. On October 16, 2017, he was appointed as the rector of this university.
In March 2019, a Fine Arts High School in Ağrı was named after him.
For his contributions to both artistic and academic fields, he has received numerous awards from various institutions and organizations, including the Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award (2016), the Ministry of Culture “Neşet Ertaş Golden Baglama Award” (2013), the TRT Turkish Folk Music Compilation Award (1989), and several others.
After retiring from his university position in 2022, Erol Parlak has continued his artistic and scholarly work, consistently emphasizing the cultural richness of Anatolia and adopting a human-centered approach that values cultural diversity. He continues to promote the spirit and cultural wealth of Anatolia to the world through his artistic and academic endeavors.