I was born in 1992 in Konya, Turkey, a city whose musical and spiritual atmosphere shaped my earliest memories. My journey into music began when I was eight years old. My father, Yavuz Selim Ceylan, often took me to the concerts he attended, and those moments left a deep and lasting impression on me. The sound of the ney, in particular, resonated with me in a way I could not yet describe. Soon after, I began taking my first lessons from Ali Polattemir and later continued with Yusuf Kayya, marking the true beginning of my musical path.

In 2006, I joined the Konya Music Association, where I spent nine years participating in rehearsals, performances, and community projects. Those years allowed me not only to develop as a young musician but also to grow within a musical culture rooted in tradition.

In 2010, I was accepted into the Selçuk University Dilek Sabancı State Conservatory, where I completed my undergraduate studies in 2015. During my education, I had the opportunity to learn from distinguished teachers such as Feti Barut, Timuçin Çevikoğlu, Emrah Hatipoğlu, and Şükrü Fırat. Their guidance strengthened both my technique and my artistic identity. Later, in 2022, I completed my master’s degree at the Kocaeli University State Conservatory, further expanding my academic and musical foundation.

One of the early milestones in my career came in 2012, when I received first place in the Young Sazendeler Talent Contest organized by Gazi University in memory of Tanburi Cemil Bey. This recognition gave me confidence and encouraged me to take my music to international stages.

Over the years, my journey has taken me far beyond the borders of Turkey. I have been fortunate to perform in many countries, including Japan, the United States, China, Canada, England, Mexico, South Korea, Tanzania, Tunisia, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Austria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Each performance abroad taught me something new about the universal language of music and how deeply the sound of the ney speaks to people from all cultures.

I also had the opportunity to take part as a ney performer in the Ibn-i Battuta Project in Shanghai, collaborating with Jordi Savall and his foundation. Additionally, during my time as a student, I performed as a guest artist in the “Sema Reactions” project with the Konya Sufism and Sema Group—a spiritually rich experience that left a strong imprint on my musical expression.

In 2018, I released the album “Esvat Duo – Ney & Tanbur” with my colleague Hasan Kiriş, a project that explores the intimate dialogue between two traditional instruments. I also enjoyed blending Turkish classical music with modern sounds in collaborations such as performing with Cenk Erdoğan and his trio at the Ottojazz Festival organized by Akbank Sanat.

Since 2015, I have been continuing my journey as a Ney Artist with the Istanbul State Turkish Music Ensembleunder the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Every stage, every rehearsal, and every new project still reminds me of the passion I felt as a child listening to the ney for the first time.

Music has always been more than a profession for me—it is a path, a connection, and a lifelong companion. I continue to explore its possibilities with the same curiosity and devotion that first led me to this art form.