“She explains classical music works in a simple language—without technical terms—on her YouTube channel, opening the door to a world that once felt exclusive.” - Forbes Türkiye

Nisan Ak is a Turkish-American conductor and the founding music director of the Turkish American Orchestra, a cross-cultural symphony orchestra based in New York City dedicated to celebrating the richness of Turkish music across genres from Ottoman classical to contemporary works. She leads the ensemble with a vision of cultural connection, innovation, and inclusivity.

Selected for Forbes Türkiye’s “30 Under 30” list in 2019, Nisan is recognized as one of the most versatile conductors to emerge from Turkey in recent years. She has conducted in San Francisco, Miami, Charleston, Quebec, Bursa, Ankara, and Antalya, and made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2021. In the 2023–24 season, she appeared with the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic and the Antalya State Symphony Orchestra.

Through her work with the Turkish American Orchestra, she curates programs that surprise and unite audiences, blending Turkish heritage with Western symphonic language, and commissioning new works by living Turkish composers.

Dr. Ak is also a passionate educator and public communicator. She teaches at the College of Charleston, and creates widely viewed educational videos on platforms including TEDx, TRT Müzik, YouTube, and BorusanSanat TV. Her collaborations with brands like Kiehl’s, Doritos, and Mercedes-Benz spotlight both classical music and women in leadership.

Born in Istanbul, she holds degrees from Istanbul Bilgi University, City University of New York, and the University of South Carolina. She divides her artistic work between the United States and Turkey.