We were lucky to catch up with Emre Gokalp recently and have shared our conversation below.
Emre, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
I was about 7 years old when I first picked up a guitar. I vividly remember my cousin, Can Gokalp, staying with us and spending time with my father. They would often hang out, playing the guitar and singing together. My father, a brilliant tenor, performed leading roles in some of the most iconic operas, like Verdi’s La Traviata and Puccini’s Tosca. He was also like a close friend to me, and I was always eager to get his attention so we could play games together. Wanting to be part of the music, I started imitating my cousin on the guitar. It didn’t take long for my father to notice that I had a natural talent for it. He did some research and quickly found out that Ahmet Kanneci, one of the most influential figures in the history of classical guitar in Türkiye, was living in Ankara—where we were based. Fortunately, Mr. Kanneci was kind enough to accept me as a student, and from there, things took off.
Prof. Kanneci had an organized system: his assistants—each remarkable guitarists—taught us the foundational techniques and assigned our homework to help us improve. But when it came to playing the actual pieces, we would perform them for him directly, focusing on the finer details like dynamics, articulations, and expression. There were four of us learning under him, and sometimes we’d play chamber music together. At a young age, I participated in a few competitions and performed in concerts, which greatly shaped my playing today.
As time went on, I graduated from Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory under Prof. Kanneci’s guidance. Soon after, I moved to London to pursue my Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music, where I studied with Prof. Michael Lewin. There, I had the opportunity to learn from visiting professors like David Russell and Fabio Zanon, while also receiving chamber and guitar-voice lessons from Steve Goss and Timothy Walker. The Royal Academy was a turning point for me as a musician. It made me realise areas I could improve, especially in terms of the details we often overlook in music. As a traditional institution, it pushed us to strive for perfection in performance. While no performance is ever truly “perfect,” aiming for it helps you discover countless nuances that are often taken for granted. For instance, while we all focus on the notes on the page, we sometimes neglect equally important elements like dynamics, phrasing, and articulation. In the end, I learned how to become my own teacher, relying less on others for musical ideas.
The biggest hurdle in my early development was my focus on becoming a good guitar player. Over time, I realised that no matter the instrument, the goal should always be to become a good musician first. It’s a lesson I now try to pass on to my students. Becoming a complete musician requires more than just mastering an instrument. Skills like sight-reading, theory, harmony, and, for guitarists, fingerboard harmony are just as essential. Learning about composition and the broader aspects of music can transform someone from a good instrumentalist into a truly well-rounded musician.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a Turkish-British classical guitarist based in London, and I’ve been fortunate to win several prizes in international guitar competitions worldwide. These include 1st prizes at the 1st International Guitar Competition organized by the Paris Guitar Foundation, the “de la Semaine Musicale en Forêt d’Orléans” in France, and the 1st Balkan Festival and Guitar Competition in Bulgaria, among many others.
My formal musical education began in Turkey under the guidance of the renowned guitarist Ahmet Kanneci at Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory. During my studies in Turkey, I had the privilege of studying with Miguel Trápaga at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid in Spain as an Erasmus exchange student. Following this, I moved to the UK to pursue my Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where I studied with distinguished guitarists, including Michael Lewin, David Russell, Fabio Zanon, Stephen Goss, and Timothy Walker. Thanks to my generous scholarship from the Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation, I completed my Master of Arts degree with DipRAM and the Frank Britton Prize for outstanding and general achievements.
Throughout my career, I have benefited from masterclasses led by legendary figures such as Alirio Diaz, Julian Byzantine, Tilman Hoppstock, Pavel Steidel, and Gerald Reichenbach, all of whom have had a profound influence on my artistic journey.
I’ve had the opportunity to perform in numerous music festivals and competitions worldwide, including Bilkent University’s “11th Guitar Meeting” in Turkey, the Marku Guitar Competition as a jury member in Albania, the Machynlleth Music Festival in the UK, and the Hass Guitar Fest in Armenia, as well as events in Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, France, and the USA.
In addition to my solo performances, I regularly collaborate in chamber music and have appeared as a soloist with various orchestras. Teaching has always been a central part of my life, and some of my students have gone on to gain admission to elite institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music’s Junior Academy, where I had the privilege of serving as a substitute teacher for a short time.
After getting very highly commended in the 1st David Russell Guitar Prize, the maestro himself generously praised my playing as “a beautiful player with a smooth and agile technique that allows him to express his musical ideas to the full, playing with a beautiful tone and shaping the music with elegance and imagination.”
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My final recital at the Royal Academy of Music holds a special significance for me. While the Academy is one of the most prestigious institutions for studying music, it also comes with intense pressure. From the very beginning of my studies, we were constantly reminded of the importance of the final recital and the need to achieve high marks for distinction. However, for this particular performance, I was able to move beyond those pressures.
My program included some of the most challenging pieces in the guitar repertoire—works by Bach, Paganini, Rodrigo, Tansman, and Walton. Rather than focusing on the technical difficulty or the fact that I was being graded, I shifted my attention to the audience and embraced the opportunity to share my interpretation of the music with them. That mindset allowed me to approach the performance with a sense of freedom and connection.
In the end, I was honoured to be awarded the DipRAM for “an outstanding final recital,” a recognition that affirmed both the performance and the journey that led me there. The intense pressure of a performance like that can only be overcome by truly enjoying what you do and sharing it with others.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Being a classical guitarist has profoundly transformed my life in countless ways. Without it, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to travel the world, become a dual citizen of a country that I love, get to meet and share the stage with so many extraordinary musicians and individuals.
Teaching has also been an incredibly fulfilling part of my journey. Passing on the knowledge I have gained from my masters to the next generation brings a sense of purpose and joy. On stage, I can connect with others through my music, and whether I am performing or teaching, seeing the emotions and reactions of my audience or students is an experience unlike any other.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emregokalp.co.uk
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emregokalpguitar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emregokalpguitar
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/emregokalpguitar
- Other: info@emregokalp.co.uk
