Cihat Aşkın is a Turkish violinist and composer. Born in Istanbul, Aşkın started his violin lessons at the age of eleven with Ayhan Turan, at the Turkish Music State Conservatory of Istanbul Technical University, graduating in 1989. He completed his studies in London, studying under Rodney Friend at the Royal College of Music (where he took all the major solo and chamber music awards), and Yfrah Neaman at City University (1992-1996, doctoral programme).