Nazlı Can Bedük (21), who grew up in state care in Ankara and discovered her musical talent at a young age, recently earned a full scholarship to the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London after seeing its brochure in a second-hand bookstore. “My goal is to contribute to Turkish folk and classical music, promoting it worldwide after completing my studies there,” she shared.
Bedük was placed in state care at age 11, growing up in Ankara’s Saray Sevgi Evleri, where she began learning guitar after discovering her musical abilities. She completed high school and entered a conservatory, where she found mentors who encouraged her musical aspirations. This summer, while browsing a bookstore, she came across a brochure for the Royal Academy of Music. Learning that the academy offers scholarships for up to ten Turkish students each year, Bedük decided to apply and began preparing intensively.
Despite the high exam fees, her mentors arranged private lessons for her in vocal, theory, and musicology training. After three months of rigorous preparation, Bedük passed the academy’s online exams. She successfully completed each stage, from theory to voice, general skills, and a traditional oral exam, ultimately securing one of the coveted scholarship spots with full funding.
For now, she is enrolled remotely, joining preparatory classes from Ankara until June 2025, when she will move to London for her in-person studies starting in September.
A Type 1 diabetic from birth, Bedük’s journey with music is closely tied to her health. Recalling her early school days, she shared, “My music teacher noticed I wasn’t managing my insulin well. She promised to teach me guitar if I took responsibility for my insulin. Playing guitar felt like an impossible goal, but I overcame my fear, and learning music became my personal reward.”
Bedük’s talents were further nurtured with the guidance of Ayşe Atam, a voice and viola artist with Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Atam saw potential in Bedük’s musical ear and encouraged her to pursue conservatory training, dispelling her doubts about a career in music. Bedük notes that her journey was also guided by other mentors, like Merve Başoğlu, who offered invaluable support along the way.
Preparing for her journey to London, where she will start in September 2025, Bedük looks forward to honing her skills. “I aim to become an academic, complete my postgraduate studies there, and then return to Turkey to make a lasting contribution to Turkish folk and classical music, bringing it to a global audience. This is my goal,” she said. Now offering private guitar lessons, Bedük hopes to inspire new generations as her mentors have inspired her.