Ercüment Orkut is an Istanbul-based composer, pianist, arranger and musical director whose work spans contemporary jazz, orchestral music, popular music, and music for film and television.

Born in Istanbul in 1984, Orkut entered the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Istanbul State Conservatory in 1993, initially studying piano before beginning composition studies in 1997. He studied composition with Prof. Özkan Manav between 2000 and 2005 and graduated from the Conservatory's Composition and Conducting Department in 2005. He later continued his graduate studies in composition and conducting with Prof. Hasan Uçarsu.

Alongside his classical training, Orkut developed a strong interest in jazz and improvisation. He studied with pianist and composer Aydın Esen in 2004 and, in 2007, spent three months in San Francisco working with Dan Zemelman and Peter Horvath on jazz piano, solo piano and piano trio performance. In 2009, representing Turkey at the Nõmme Jazz International Competition for Young Jazz Artists, he won second prize in the piano category and was also named the Audience Favourite.

Throughout his career, Orkut has performed with some of Turkey's leading pop artists, including Sezen Aksu, Kenan Doğulu and Yaşar, as well as prominent figures from the Turkish jazz scene such as İmer Demirer, Volkan Öktem, Cem Aksel, Ferit Odman and Sarp Maden. Internationally, he has shared the stage with artists including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nils Landgren, Dave Allen, China Moses, Terell Stafford and Marius Neset.

His recording career includes performances on more than 50 albums across jazz, popular music and other projects, while his live appearances include major events such as the Istanbul Jazz Festival, Akbank Jazz Festival and XJAZZ Berlin.

Orkut has built an extensive career as a composer for film and television, contributing music to numerous productions including İstanbullu Gelin, Yasak Elma, Gibi and the feature film Cadı. In 2013, Orkut and his team received the Best Score for a Drama award at the Antalya Television Awards for the television series Benim İçin Üzülme.

As a solo artist, Orkut released his debut album, Low Profile, through Kalan Music in 2015, followed by his second album, Persona, through Lin Records in 2018. His solo music draws on his background in contemporary composition, jazz and improvisation, bringing these influences together through original compositions and ensemble-based music. His third solo album, Far from Both Ends, is forthcoming.

In 2016, Orkut attended the 46th Siena Jazz International Summer Workshop in Italy, where he worked with musicians including Matt Mitchell, Miguel Zenón, Aaron Parks, Stefano Battaglia and Franco D'Andrea. In 2017, he appeared as the featured pianist in the Istanbul performances of La La Land in Concert at Zorlu PSM, performing Justin Hurwitz's Academy Award-winning score live with symphony orchestra alongside the film.

Beyond his solo output, Orkut is a core member and composer of TÖZ, a collaborative ensemble whose debut album, TÖZ, was released in 2018, followed by TÖZ II in 2022.

In recent years, musical direction, arranging and large-scale productions have become an increasingly significant part of Orkut's career. He serves as Musical Director of Kenan Doğulu's İhtimaller project, while also contributing arrangements to selected works.

In 2024, Orkut served as Musical Director and arranger for İhtimaller II, recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. He created all of the arrangements for the forthcoming album and directed the project musically.

Orkut is also the Musical Director and arranger of Kenan Doğulu Symphonity, for which he created the complete body of symphonic arrangements and oversees the project's musical direction.

Alongside his activities as a composer, performer, arranger and musical director, Orkut is also active in music broadcasting, bringing his perspective as a musician to conversations around music, production and listening.

Moving between the concert stage, recording studio, screen and large-scale productions, Orkut continues to develop a body of work in which composition, improvisation, arranging and musical direction form interconnected parts of the same musical practice.