International clarinet artist Serkan Cagri wanted to use London as a base for new musical collaborations while continuing his work in Türkiye. We prepared his UK Global Talent application around a carefully selected record of his artistic career. His application was successful, and he moved to London with his family.
Case at a glance
| Item | Case details |
|---|---|
| Profile | International clarinet artist, educator and artistic director |
| Career record | Performances, recordings, television programmes, teaching and international collaborations |
| Distinctive work | Development of a signature clarinet model with Amati |
| Immigration route | UK Global Talent visa |
| Preparation focus | Selecting and organising the strongest evidence from an extensive professional archive |
| Outcome | Successful application and relocation to London with his family |
A Career Across Performance, Teaching and Television
Serkan grew up in a musical family in Keşan, Edirne. He pursued conservatoire education and developed a career spanning performance, teaching and recording.
His work included performing with Grup Laçin, developing a solo career, releasing albums and presenting music programmes on television. He also taught clarinet at Istanbul Technical University’s conservatoire and at Haliç University.
Over the years, international concerts and collaborations became an important part of his work. His artistic direction of festivals also reflected his interest in bringing musicians together to create new performances.
Developing a Signature Clarinet with Amati
One distinctive part of Serkan’s professional record was his collaboration with instrument manufacturer Amati. Drawing on his playing experience, he proposed changes to the G clarinet to improve aspects of its use in performance.
The collaboration led to a signature model bearing his name. He later worked with the manufacturer on an updated version.
This work added another dimension to his career: his contribution extended from performing and teaching to the development of the instrument itself. We considered it alongside the wider professional record when assessing his application.
Choosing London for New Musical Collaborations
Serkan’s plans for London centred on collaboration. Having performed internationally for many years, he wanted more opportunities to work closely with musicians from different traditions and develop new creative projects.
He intended to continue his concerts and television work in Türkiye while building connections in the UK. London’s diverse music community was part of the appeal.
Those plans gave the application a clear direction. We considered his established artistic record alongside the work he wanted to develop in the UK.
Selecting the Evidence from a Substantial Career Archive
Serkan had retained records of his work over many years. When we began preparing the application, a substantial archive was already available.
We reviewed the material against the relevant Global Talent criteria and selected the evidence that best demonstrated his achievements and international career. We worked closely with him on the supporting documents, reference letters and translations needed for the submission.
The preparation involved regular discussions about which documents to use and how to present them. We organised the selected evidence so that a reviewer could understand the significance of his work through the application itself.
His organised records and prompt responses helped the preparation progress. They allowed us to concentrate on assessing the material and building the case.
Global Talent Approval and the Move to London
The application was successful, enabling Serkan and his family to relocate to London. When we recorded our conversation, he had recently arrived and was beginning this next stage of his career.
He planned to develop new collaborations in the UK while maintaining his professional work in Türkiye.
His case illustrates the practical value of keeping records throughout an artistic career. A well-maintained archive gave us the material to assess; careful selection and presentation turned it into a focused Global Talent application.
Learn more about our Global Talent visa services.
Support for Your Global Talent Application
We assess your artistic career and UK plans to identify an appropriate Global Talent strategy. We help review your professional archive, select evidence relevant to the application criteria, develop supporting reference letters and prepare the endorsement and visa applications. For musicians and other artists, we explain the significance of the work documented in the record, bringing achievements and future plans together in a clear application.
Contact us to discuss whether Global Talent could be suitable for your artistic profile. Email your current CV or artistic résumé to uk@celiksoylaw.com, or complete the eligibility assessment form.