Haliç University Conservatory was established in 1999 as the first private conservatory of the Republic of Türkiye, initially founded around the Department of Turkish Music. The establishment of the Conservatory was led by distinguished vocal artists and choir conductors of TRT Istanbul Radio. For more than twenty years, Haliç Conservatory has trained many of Türkiye’s most prominent artists, and it continues to provide education in the fields of Opera, Theatre, and Turkish Music.

The Department of Theatre, founded in 2001 under the leadership of Müşfik KENTER, has educated many well-recognized graduates who have gone on to achieve success in stage arts, cinema and television. Since its foundation, celebrated Turkish artists such as Sönmez ATASOY, Zekai MÜFTÜOĞLU, Kadriye KENTER, Atilla ŞENDİL, Murat KARASU, Şükrü TÜREN, Celal Kadri KINOĞLU, Saydam YENİAY, Hasan ŞAHİNTÜRK and Oğuz ARICI have contributed to the teaching staff of the department.

The Department of Opera, established in 2007, has included in its faculty highly esteemed names such as Prof. Saim AKÇIL, Prof. Leyla Pınar TANSEVER and State Opera and Ballet artist Suat ARIKAN, among many others.

The Department of Turkish Music has also been home to some of Türkiye’s leading artists over the past two decades. Faculty members have included the late Prof. Dr. Alâeddin YAVAŞÇA, Prof. Mutlu TORUN, Prof. Erol DERAN, Sadun AKSÜT, Yücel PAŞMAKÇI, Mehmet ERENLER, Ahmet ÖZHAN, Melihat GÜLSES, Serap Mutlu AKBULUT and Münip UTANDI renowned figures who have made significant contributions to the field.

Having completed more than a quarter of a century in higher education, Haliç University continues its educational vision focusing on science, art and technology, by training highly skilled and successful individuals in their respective fields. The Conservatory provides high-quality, world-class education in Opera, Theatre and Turkish Music. As the Director of the Conservatory, Prof. Murat Salim TOKAÇ states: “At Haliç University Conservatory, our mission is to nurture future artists by drawing inspiration from our deep-rooted cultural and artistic heritage.”

With its student-centered approach, Haliç University stands among Türkiye’s distinguished foundation universities. Emphasizing both science and art, the University continues to attract attention today as a significant institution in conservatory education, thanks to its forward-looking initiatives and collaborations. Numerous graduates from the Conservatory’s departments-too many to list here-are performing actively on the national and international art stage.