Batuhan Aydın (born July 14, 1991) is a Turkish composer, ethnomusicologist, and kaval player based in Istanbul, Turkey. His work draws on Anatolian and Balkan folk traditions and incorporates jazz, improvisation, and contemporary musical forms.Jazz Magazine Batuhan Aydın: Pioneer of the Modern Kaval, and his album “Homewards” 2026-05-20 He treats the kaval within both traditional and experimental contexts, extending its use beyond regional performance practices.All About Jazz Magazine Istanbul-born jazz musician and composer Batuhan Aydın is a pioneer of modern kaval performance 2024-04-16
Biography Early life and education Batuhan Aydın was born in Istanbul on 14 July 1991. His mother’s family originates from the Ludogorie () region of Bulgaria, while his father’s roots lie in Gümüşhane, a city in Turkey’s eastern Black Sea region.Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Батухан Айдън пред БТА Анкара: С Теодосий Спасов имаме специален проект “Чифте кавали” 2025-11-14 He grew up in an environment deeply shaped by his parents’ work as folk dance choreographers and folklorists, which played a formative role in his artistic development.Official Website: Nardis Jazz Club About: Batuhan Aydın 2020-03-17
Aydın was admitted to the high school division of Istanbul Technical University’s Turkish Music State Conservatory, where he began formal training in the kaval.Ahenk Music (Label) B: Batuhan Aydın 2022-04-11
Aydın continued his studies of the kaval with Prof. Lyuben Dossev () at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts “Prof. Asen Diamandiev” in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) Batuhan Aydın: Kaval denince akla Bulgaristan geliyor 2019-03-17 He later pursued academic research at the Department of Musicology at Istanbul Technical University’s Turkish Music State Conservatory and earned a master’s degree in Music and Performing Arts from Yıldız Technical University.Haberlendin (e-newspaper) Batuhan Aydın Kimdir? 2019-11-10
Career From 2010 to 2013, he was a member of the Youth Orchestra of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT).Ekonomim (e-newspaper) Yeni nesil kavalcı: Batuhan Aydın 2024-06-02 In 2014, he became the youngest instrumentalist to perform at the 1st International Kaval Conference in Istanbul.İTÜ TMDK 1st International Kaval Conference 2013
He is the founding member and frontman of KAPIKO, an Istanbul-based ethno/world jazz and progressive fusion ensemble centered around the kaval.BizimCaz Magazine About: KAPIKO 2012 The ensemble draws on Anatolian and Balkan folk traditions in original compositions shaped through jazz and improvisational approaches.Gazete Duvar Kavalın Caz Hali 2022-03-18Cazkolik Magazine KAPIKO’nun “Nova” albümünün en çarpıcı yanı kavalı caza dahil etmesi olabilir ama müziğin tamamı bize çok daha büyük bir resmi anlatıyor 2022-03-03 Its album Nova (2022) was listed among the best Turkish jazz albums of 2022 by the magazine Cazkolik.Cazkolik Magazine Cazkolik Best of 2022: Yılın en iyi albümleri belirlendi 2022-12-10 Formed in 2013, KAPIKO remains active and has performed at various international jazz festivals in Turkey and Europe.T24 (e-newspaper) 9.Uluslararası Bodrum Caz Festivali 2025-06-15CNN Türk 5.Urla Caz ve Gastronomi Festivali bu akşam başlıyor 2023-08-11Habertürk Bu hafta sonu Adalar’da caz var 2024-06-25Kulturzentrum Spittelberg im Amerlinghaus KAPIKO Konzert & Ausstellungseröffnung 2022-05-02Tube’s Live Music (Graz, AT) KAPIKO - Grand Austrian Tour 2026 2026-05-12 The ensemble also released the singles Viensko Horo (2022), in collaboration with Bulgarian drummer Stoyan Yankoulov,Cazkolik Magazine Viensko Horo - KAPIKO 2022-12-09 and Ethiopian Waltz (2023).Cazkolik Magazine Ethiopian Waltz - KAPIKO 2023-04-07
In 2022, Aydın released his composition Yana with Bulgarian producer Ivan Shopov (), marking his first electronic music collaboration. The work combines traditional musical material with electronic production techniques.SoundCloud Batuhan Aydın & Ivan Shopov - Yana 2022-07-01
In 2024, Batuhan Aydın collaborated with Theodosii Spassov () on Chifte Kaval (), a project for two kaval soloists and string orchestra featuring original compositions written for kaval and orchestra.Gazete Duvar “Dünyanın Kavalcısı” Spassov ve “Modern Kavalcı” Aydın CRR’de buluşacak 2024-05-13 The project brings together two prominent contemporary kaval performers from Turkey and Bulgaria.AKŞAM Gazetesi Theodosii Spassov ile Batuhan Aydın’dan İstanbul’da konser 2024-06-06 Based on the cultural and musical traditions of Anatolia and the Balkans, it reinterprets the kaval tradition as a dialogue between two solo voices within an orchestral setting.Bizim Yaka (e-newspaper) “UNESCO Barış Sanatçısı” unvanlı Bulgar kaval sanatçısı Theodosii Spassov ile modern kavalın önemli temsilcilerinden Batuhan Aydın, İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi (İBB) Cemal Reşit Rey (CRR) Konser Salonu’nda müzikseverlerle buluştu 2024-06-05 The project premiered on 5 June 2024 at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall in Istanbul.Elektronik Gazete (e-newspaper) “Modern Kavalcı” Aydın CRR’de 2024-06-01Habertürk Anadolu ve Balkan Halklarının Ortak Hikayesi: “Kaval” 2024-06-02Aydınlık UNESCO Barış Sanatçısı Theodosii Spassov ve modern kavalın önemli temsilcilerinden Batuhan Aydın, 5 Haziran Çarşamba günü saat 20.00’de İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi (İBB) Cemal Reşit Rey (CRR) Konser Salonu’nda müzikseverlerle buluşacak 2024-05-31Gerçek Gündem (e-newspaper) CRR’de 5 Haziran’da “Theodosii Spassov-Batuhan Aydın” 2024-06-03Dünya Gazetesi (e-newspaper) Cemal Reşit Rey Konser Salonu - 5 Haziran’da “Theodosii Spassov-Batuhan Aydın” 2024-06-04ticketmaster Theodosii Spassov - Batuhan Aydın 2024-05-02
In early 2026, Aydın founded the Batuhan Aydın Folk Quartet, a contemporary ensemble exploring Anatolian folk material through modern improvisational and harmonic approaches.All About Jazz Magazine Homewards (2026) 2026-04-24 The quartet features Nikolaus Grill on piano, Kağan Yıldız on double bass, and Ediz Hafızoğlu on drums.BizimCaz Magazine Batuhan Aydın Folk Quartet & Jülide Özçelik - Homewards 2026-04-24 The quartet’s debut album Homewards (2026), made in collaboration with vocalist Jülide Özçelik, includes reinterpretations of Anatolian folk melodies and features guest appearances by Armenian-American composer and oud player Ara Dinkjian,BBC Ara Dinkjian’la müzikteki kardeşlik duygusu üstüne... 2012-11-22 a prominent figure in contemporary world music,Library of Congress Homegrown Plus: Ara Dinkjian & Zulal Concert and Oral History by Stephanie Hall 2019-08-14 Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær,JazzTimes Magazine Nils Petter Molvær: Future Jazz Now 2019-04-25 a key figure in nu-jazz,Kings Place Magazine Nils Petter Molvær is one of the most prominent performers within an electroacoustic, improvised/composed musical hybrid that has become a genre of its own 2026-04-02 and Grammy Award-winning guitarist Cenk Erdoğan.Zorlu PSM Grammy ödüllü Cenk Erdoğan ile özel röportaj
Alongside his performance career, Aydın conducts international workshops and masterclasses focusing on advanced kaval playing techniques and Bulgarian folk music.Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) Etno caz müzisyenleri Batuhan Aydın ve Nikolaus Grill ile müzik sohbeti 2019-12-08 He has held teaching positions at various universities over different periods and has also appeared as a guest lecturer at other institutions.
Discography Release year Artist Title Release type 2013 KAPIKO On Bierli Album 2018 Balkan Blow Veligdensko Oro Single 2022 KAPIKO Nova Album 2022 Batuhan Aydın & Ivan Shopov Yana Single 2022 KAPIKO feat. Stoyan Yankoulov Viensko Horo Single 2023 KAPIKO feat. Ezgi İrem Mutlu Ethiopian Waltz Single 2026 Batuhan Aydın Folk Quartet Homewards Album
References
External links Official website