Münir Beken

Münir Beken is an Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Ethnomusicology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is also the Director of the Music of Turkey Ensemble, blending academic leadership with performance and cultural preservation.

• Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Maryland
• M.A. in Music Theory from the Technical University of Istanbul

His research focuses on **modal theory**, **musical globalization**, and the **phenomenology of music**, with a strong emphasis on melodic modal systems across the Middle East and Central Asia. His work extends to the study of Turkish music and the musical traditions of the Ottoman Empire.

Beken has published in prestigious outlets such as *Ethnomusicology* and *The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians*. His career spans composition, ethnomusicology, and performance, including a state-commissioned ballet suite and scoring for television documentaries internationally.

• 2018 Global Music Awards Gold Medal
• Awards for film music

As a founding member of the State Turkish Music Ensemble and director of the Music of Turkey Ensemble, Beken actively contributes to cultural preservation and performance, integrating his scholarly and artistic pursuits.