Aziz Şenol Filiz

Aziz Şenol Filiz, born on September 28, 1962, in Tire, İzmir, is one of Türkiye’s leading ney players, composers, and performers of traditional Turkish music. One of four children of renowned ney player Lütfi Filiz and Nuriye Filiz, he was introduced to music at an early age and received his first ney lessons from Sencer Derya in İzmir.
Filiz graduated from the Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music State Conservatory in 1984. Throughout his education, he had the opportunity to study and work with numerous distinguished musicians, particularly Ney Master Fuat Türkelman. In 1983, he began his professional career as a ney player with the Istanbul State Classical Turkish Music Choir, where he continued to perform for many years.
In 1990, he co-founded the ensemble “Yansımalar” (Reflections) with Birol Yayla, marking a significant milestone in his musical career. Blending traditional Turkish music with contemporary interpretations, the ensemble performed extensively both in Türkiye and internationally, including concerts in the United States, France, Germany, Belarus, Sudan, Egypt, Tunisia, and Bahrain. The ensemble reached a wide audience through its albums “Yansımalar” (1991), “Bab-ı Esrar” (1995), “Serzeniş” (2000), and “Vuslat” (2001).
Between 1996 and 2002, Filiz collaborated with the “Bezmara” music ensemble, contributing to the rediscovery and reinterpretation of compositions dating from 1500 to 1750. These projects represented significant contributions to the preservation and revival of historical Turkish music. He also participated in various recording projects alongside artists such as Samim Karaca, Taner Sayacıoğlu, and Lütfiye Özer.
From 1999 to 2000, together with Birol Yayla, he produced and presented the television program “Gelenekten Geleceğe Yansımalar” (Reflections from Tradition to the Future) on BRT Television. Across 60 episodes, the program brought together numerous distinguished musicians and introduced audiences to the richness of Turkish musical traditions.
Among his notable projects are “Neyzen Tevfik” (2001), for which he served as musical advisor, and “Noktanın Sonsuzluğu” (2002), an album featuring compositions by his father, Lütfi Filiz. He also made significant contributions to the repertoire of Turkish Sufi music through his “Beş Ayin” (Five Mevlevi Ceremonies) album series.
In 2009, Filiz received the “Best Theatre Music” award at the Muhsin Ertuğrul Theatre Awards. He was also honored by Küçükçekmece Municipality for his achievements and contributions to arts and culture.
In 2017, he voluntarily retired from the Presidential Classical Turkish Music Choir, continuing his artistic career through concerts, performances, and musical projects.
Renowned for his exceptional breath control, distinctive ney-playing style, and unique interpretations of traditional Turkish music, Aziz Şenol Filiz has made lasting contributions to preserving and reviving nearly forgotten compositions, while helping introduce the rich heritage of Turkish music to younger generations.






