Ahmet KANNECI was born in Turkey on June 21st, 1957. He began his music (theory) studies with one of Turkey’s leading composers, Turgay ERDENER, and continued later on with Istemihan TAVILOGLU and Ali SEVGI. After meeting Julian BYZANTINE in 1977, his interest turned totally to classical guitar performances. He continued his studies with Julian BYZANTINE, while studying at the METU Department of Architecture. Four years later, while graduating from the Department of Architecture, he was awarded a scholarship from the Spanish Government to study with Josè TOMAS at the “Conservatorio Superior de Música Óscar Esplá de Alicante”. He has had the privilege of playing for Alirio DIAZ and receiving his critical acclaim.
When he returned to his native country, Turkey, he was the first to found the classical guitar departments in four different conservatories. In 1993, he was awarded by Fulbright, a scholarship for research in the USA for which he was awarded with “Life Time Achievement in Art”. He was also awarded “Honorary Doctorate” by Harran University and Isparta S.D. University, Turkey, the “Award of Appreciation” by Middle East Technical University, Turkey, the “Art Award” by Hacettepe University, Turkey and the “Guitarist of the Year Award” given for the first time by Yildiz Technical University, Turkey. In addition to his musical activities in Turkey, he appeared in Europe, Asia, and in Americas at various concert halls such as Museo Andrés Segovia (Spain), Carnegie Hall (USA), Merkin Concert Hall (USA), Royal Festival Hall (UK) and Teatro Colón (Argentina). Besides his solo guitar concerts, he gave duo concerts with several artists such as Victor IKAIZEN (Violin), Ayhan ERMAN(Violin), Jorge CARDOSO (Guitar), Selva ERDENER (Soprano), Dorothy RANDOLPH (Baroque Violin), Sefika EUTLUER (Flute), Ekrem ÖZTAN (Clarinette), Hiroki Terashima (Guitar), Javier Garcia MORENO (Guitar), Diler ARGAT (Piano), Sibel ÖZGÜN (Piano), and Ataol BEHRAMOGLU (Poet). He was also the soloist several times in guitar concertos with orchestra.
Currently KANNECI is the chairman of the Department of Guitar at Hacettepe University State Conservatory and he is giving guitar courses at Sevda - Cenap AND Music Foundation in Ankara. He concentrates on performing works which have been dedicated to him, and is conducting research in guitar music that he has started with the distinguished Turkish guitarist Savas ÇEKIRGE. The following modern composers have written compositions and dedicated them to him: T.ERDENER, F.SAY, J.CARDOSO, F.ORTIZ, E.BAYRAKTAR, H.E.KORKMAZ, I.TAVILOGL,N.BOSNA, M.A.CHERUBITO, C.PADRO, T.WALKER, M.TOROS, T.SHAHIDI, M.HOSHINO, H. TERASHIMA, F. CUENCA.
Web: http://www.kanneci.org/en/kanneci.htm