Born in Ankara in 1977, Fazlı Orhun Orhon is one of the most prominent orchestra conductors, composers, and academics of his generation. After graduating from TED Ankara College, he began his musical journey at the Bilkent University Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, where he studied theory and composition with composer Elhan Bakihanov.

He continued his training abroad, gaining admission to Rainer Boesch's composition class at the Académie Internationale de Musique de Gaillard in France. Boesch was a student of Olivier Messiaen. Upon returning to Turkey, Orhon completed his master's and doctoral studies at Bilkent University. He studied composition with Mahir Çetiz, Füsun Köksal, and Işın Metin and orchestral conducting with the distinguished conductor, Gürer Aykal.

Orhun Orhon has achieved significant recognition as a composer, receiving third prize in the 2006 Dr. Nejat Eczacıbaşı National Composition Competition and second prize in 2008. In Ankara, he organized a series of chamber music concerts over three years, facilitating the premieres and recordings of many works by Turkish composers.

His conducting career is marked by national and international engagements. He is known for his historically informed interpretations and his commitment to advocating for contemporary Turkish music. He has earned acclaim from musicians and critics alike. He has held active roles in ensembles such as the World Youth Orchestra (WYO), the Greek-Turkish Youth Orchestra (GTYO), and the National Youth Symphony Orchestra (UGSO).

In 2007, he served as assistant conductor of the Bilkent Youth Symphony Orchestra, leading performances of works by Wagner, Strauss, and Shostakovich. He later worked as an assistant to Vladimir Ashkenazy with the GTYO, conducting the orchestra from 2010 to 2012.

In 2011, he had the opportunity to work closely with Kurt Masur in Germany. That same year, he founded the Ankara Youth Symphony Orchestra with his students and served as its music director until 2018. The orchestra performed at prestigious events, including the Ankara Music Festival.

Orhon has also guest-conducted contemporary music ensembles based in Istanbul, such as Hezarfen and NK Ensemble. He has premiered and recorded numerous works by Turkish composers. Orhon has digitally archived handwritten scores by historical Turkish composers. Some of these scores were later published by the German publishing house Schott Music.

In 2015, he received the Conductor of the Year award at the Donizetti Classical Music Awards for his positive rapport with orchestras, his ability to perform complex repertoire with clarity, and his support for young musicians and soloists. At the same ceremony, the Ankara Youth Symphony Orchestra was named Orchestra of the Year.

Currently a faculty member at the Başkent University State Conservatory, Orhon has served as the general art director and principal conductor of the Orkestra Akademik Başkent since 2018. With this orchestra, he performed at the opening of the St. Petersburg Piano Festival—the first time a Turkish orchestra had been invited to the event—and at the Uzeyir Hajibeyov International Festival in Baku in 2017. In 2022, he collaborated with METU Computer Engineering and PanoramicWeb to create Turkey’s first virtual reality concert recording.

With a repertoire spanning from Baroque to the 21st century, Orhun Orhon is recognized for his warm and collaborative orchestral leadership, educational approach, and emphasis on the collective spirit of music. His energetic stage presence, engaging commentary, and witty demeanor allow him to connect deeply with audiences, securing his respected place in Turkey’s musical landscape.