Ecevit Tunali

Ecevit Tunali was born in Romania where he started his musical education at an early age. He moved to Turkey with his family in his teens, and later entered the Turkish Music State Conservatory at Istanbul Technical University to study cello. During his time at the University, he met a master craftsman, Cafer Acin and decided to transfer into the Department of Instrument Making. Mr. Tunali graduated from the Conservatory in 1984, and in the same year, started working as a luthier for the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Tunali has attended many prestigious violin workshops including: Hans Schicker in Freiburg, Germany; Vahakn Nigogosian Workshop at Oberlin College, Ohio, U.S.A.; H. Kostler, in Stuttgart; and Marcel Richters GMBH in Vienna. He has also worked for Machold Rare Violins in New York City and currently provides his vast knowledge of violin restoration and repair as a consultant for Reed-Yeboah Fine Violins. Mr. Tunali has his workshop in Tesvikiye, Istanbul, Turkey where he not only makes string instruments, but also restores and analyzes antique instruments.

Besides being a luthier and a restorer, Mr. Tunali also dedicates his time to teaching at Mimar Sinan Fine Art University, State Conservatory. He was recently featured on many TV channels such as TRT1, TRT2, ATV, CNN Turk, Kanal D, and Acik Radio in a film about violin making. Mr. Tunali organizes violin-making workshops and international violin competitions in Turkey. He resides in Istanbul, Turkey with his wife, violinist Iffet and daughter, Ilayda.