The guitarist, composer and lecturer Ceyhun ?aklar was born in ?stanbul in 1971. His interest in music started to develop as he had piano lessons with Ebru Do?an in his early highschool years. With her encouragement and guidance, he started studying classical guitar and prepared for the conservatory examinations. In 1987, he enrolled in ?stanbul University State Conservatory, the Department of Classical Guitar, and had the chance to study with the renowned guitarist, Erdem Sökmen. After a long process of education, he graduated form the Conservatory and received a B.A. in 1997 with Excellence. Following his graduation, he started his career as a lecturer of guitar at the same institution. In 2002, he completed his M.A. in ?stanbul University State Conservatory, the Department of Classical Guitar with his masters thesis titled A New Approach to the Use of the Right Hand Technique in Classical Guitar, supervised by Erdem Sökmen. In this process, he performed many concerts of singing - guitar with soprano ?ebnem Tuncay Ünal and of solo guitar at various concert halls.
?aklar also developed an interest in the discipline of composition during his educational process, and from the year 1999 onwards, he focused on composition as well. His works “Sonata No.1” and “Melancholic Preludes No.1” were awarded with the First Place and the First Honorable Mention awards respectively at the National Guitar Compositions Competition of the III. Guitar Days Organization held by Y?ld?z Technical University in 2002. In 2004, he enrolled in ?stanbul University State Conservatory, the Department of Composition, and also had the chance to study composition with Mete Sakp?nar, musical analysis with Emel Çelebio?lu, contemporary notation with ?lhan Usmanba?.
He received his second M.A. degree at this department with his master thesis titled A Study on the Polytonality Technique and Analysis of Dariu Milhaud’s Work: Saudades do Brasil, supervised by Lale Feriduno?lu.
?aklar’s  various solo-guitar, two-guitars, three-guitars and chamber music works were performed in numerous concert halls all around Turkey. In 2003, his work ‘Sonat No.1’ (Section II-Elegia)  was a compulsary work to be performed by the finalists at Y?ld?z Technical University, Guitar Days Organization IV, Guitar Performance Competition.
he same work was highly celebrated by the highly acclaimed guitarist Costas Cotsiolis at Bilkent University, 1st All Turkey Guitar Symposium in 2006. In 2007, his work “Variations on the Skygger Theme by Jan Garbarek”, which was dedicated to the guitar trio Triobio and was performed by the same trio in 2nd All Turkey Guitar Symposium, received a lot of positive feedback both from the audience and the academics attending the organization. In 2008, his work “Konçertant Fantazi”, which was composed for two guitars and an orhcestra and was dedicated to Terci-Korad Duo, was performed by ?nönü University Orchestra and Terci-Korad Duo in Malatya, during 1st ?nönü University Guitar Days Organization, as a special composition for the organization. In the same year, “Melankolik Prelüdler No. 2” was performed by Cem Duruöz in New York, Carnegie Hall. His work “Tepegoz Suite” was awarded with the First Place award respectively at the National Guitar Compositions Competition of the X. Guitar Days Organization held by Y?ld?z Technical University in 2009. At the same competition, he was honoured with Samih Rifat Jury Special Award.
Currently employed as a lecturer of guitar at ?stanbul University State Conservatory since 1997, and of guitar chamber music courses since 2005, ?aklar still continues with his composition studies.
Web: http://www.ceyhunsaklar.com/english/biography.html (2009)