Hakan A. Toker was born in 1976, Mersin, Turkey. His interest in music began at an early age, by messing around with a keyboard on his own and eventually picking-up tunes on it by ear. After some private lessons and studying music in two different conservatories in Turkey (IUDK and Bilkent), he completed his studies in the USA at Indiana University School of Music, double majoring in piano and composition (BM 2000). Alongside his formal education, he always kept improvising and learning many more things on his own, including Turkish music and other instruments.

While living in the USA (1997-2006) he gained experience playing with various world music bands such as Salaam, Silk Road, Orquesta Son; recording, concertizing and teaching with them. He also continued his solo activities playing improvised recitals, music for silent films and taking part in many more unique projects.

In 2006 he went back to his homeland and became a founding member of new bands such as Tanini, Abra and Toker Trio; again, concertizing, recording and teaching workshops with them.

In 2013 he was given “Our Living Values” award by the 1st. Mersin Cultural Festival committee.

In 2017 he won the Global Music Awards Silver Medal together with his Croatian colleagues Matej Meštrović and Matija Dedić for their album “Vivaldi - 4 Seasons for 3 Pianos” created by Matej Meštrović and released by Parma/Navona Recordings. In 2019 he won the same award for his solo album “Toker Messing Around ... with the classics;)” released by the same company.

Toker has been well acclaimed for his work in the fields of world music and classical improvisation –the latter being an endangered tradition, kept alive by very few recitalists today. His albums “Turkish Music on Piano” (2005), “Alla Turca Alla Toker” (2012, MCC) testifies for his accomplishments in the former, while “Transformations” (2003, New World) and “Toker Messing Around” (2019, Parma/Navona) testifies for the latter. He is also an outstanding master of fusion. “Şehir Hayatı/City Life” (2018, YeniKapı) and “Taurus Mountains” (2019 PB) are his albums demonstrating his ability to mix the East and West, giving birth to his unique voice in his original compositions.

As a performer, so far he has played in 28 countries, including international festivals such as the Istanbul, Ankara, Mersin (Turkey), Lvov (Ukraine) and Indianapolis Jazz (USA) festivals.

As a composer, he writes and arranges in many genres including Western classical, jazz and Turkish music for all kinds of media.