Turkish folk music is a living heritage from the many cultures of Anatolia. Rich in regional diversity, it expresses everyday emotions through songs drawing on personal stories. Passed on by türkü singers and aşıks, it combines oral traditions, improvisation, poetry and instruments such as the saz (lute).

Born in Ankara and originally from Malatya in Turkey, Sema Gültekin has been immersed in Turkish folk music since childhood. Trained in baglama and music theory, she developed her stage experience at secondary school, while pursuing an MBA at Istanbul’s Yeditepe University. She perfected her repertoire at the Erdal Erzincan Music Centre. Since moving to Montreal in 2022, she has been helping to promote Turkish folk music through concerts and workshops, both on the local music scene and within Montreal’s Turkish community.