Ozan at 5
Ozan developed an interest in music at the age of 5 and began learning how to play Anatolia’s widely known and traditional instrument, the baglama, with the support of his father Cemal Toprak.
He commenced his music education at Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Music Education Department, where he played the violin and the piano.
He then completed his studies at Ege University State Turkish Music Conservatory. From the second year of his studies, he started working for Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) as a baglama player and participated in many radio programs.
Additionally, he was a choirmaster for the Ege University Faculty of Medicine Choir and the City Town of Salihli Choir.
Iskender Ozan is a master of traditional instruments such as the baglama, yayli tambur, mizrapli tambur, kabak kemane.
In 2002, after completing his studies, he moved to Germany to undertake studies in musicology. During the 8 years he spent in Germany, Toprak worked as a composer, instrumentalist, and actor for the children’s theatre ‘Theater Mummpitz’. He also toured with the band Quantensprung and made a documentary about the 50th Anniversary of a Protestant family education center Familienbildungsstätte in Nuremberg.
In 2010, Iskender Ozan Toprak relocated to vibrant and multicultural London. He played for the Royal Academy Orchestra, at the Thames Festival, and participated in many concerts and local theatres in London.
Iskender Ozan Toprak, who has been living in Melbourne since 2016, set up the “Ocean Project.” The first concert of the Ocean Project was held at Penola College on April 8, 2017, in Melbourne and was highly acclaimed by the audience. In March 2017, he accompanied world-famous musician Mercan Dede on his Australia tour.
On April 24, 2017, Toprak became the first Turkish musician to perform a concert at the Melbourne Recital Center, one of Australia’s best halls. In an interview about the Recital Center concert, the following was written about him:
“Iskender Ozan Toprak brings a unique blend of music in what can best be described as East meets West, in a beautiful combination of classical music with traditional Eastern music.”
Iskender Ozan conducted the concert “Euphony – Ahenk” on October 27, 2018, on the stage of the renowned Elizabeth Murdoch Hall at the Melbourne Recital Centre as a composer. This concert was sponsored by the Turks Abroad and Related Communities Presidency (YTB), Turkish Airlines, Commonwealth Bank, and supported by Mt Hira College to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Turkish Immigration to Australia.
In March 2019, Toprak conducted the ‘Endless Requiem Canakkale’ concert, which was held under the patronage of the Presidency of Turkey for the 104th Anniversary of the 18 March Canakkale.
On May 6, 2023, he conducted a charity concert to help those affected by the earthquake in Turkey on February 6, 2023, which caused the death of thousands of people.
He also conducted a special concert as part of the 100th-anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Republic of Turkey.
Iskender Ozan Toprak has organized concerts with a self-arranged orchestra in various locations such as the Melbourne Recital Centre, WOMADelaide Music Festival, and Port Fairy Folk Festival and continues to do so.