Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol (born September 24, 1974) is a Grammy nominated Turkish-American composer[1] and CMES Harvard University fellow[2] (2013-15) who is a jazz pianist and singer that also performs a number of Near and Middle Eastern instruments[3] as well as the keyboardless synthesizer Continuum Fingerboard[4] and the SANLIKOL Renaissance 17, a digital microtonal keyboard designed and conceived by himself.

After studying with composers George Russell, Bob Brookmeyer, and Lee Hyla, Sanlıkol completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at New England Conservatory in 2004 .

[12] In 2002 Sanlıkol received his first major commission to write a piece for PALS children's chorus with a soprano and tenor accompanied by Turkish instruments and a chamber ensemble.

[8] The discovery and exploration of his roots prompted him in helping find the non-profit organization DÜNYA based in Boston, Massachusetts along with Robert Labaree and his wife, Serap Kantarcı Sanlıkol in late 2003.

[13] The unique nature of DÜNYA resulted in Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol going on the air numerous times on NPR and PRI as well as repeated coverage by the press.

A second cantata written for PALS children's chorus accompanied by a tenor, Turkish instruments and a chamber ensemble, entitled Keloğlan: The Bald Boy and His Magic Lute, was one such follow-up attempt in 2007.

[25] He has composed for, performed and toured with international stars and ensembles such as Dave Liebman, Billy Cobham, Bob Brookmeyer, Anat Cohen, Antonio Sanchez, Tiger Okoshi, Miguel Zenón, John Patitucci, Gil Goldstein, Esperanza Spalding, Boston Camerata, A Far Cry string orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Boston Cello Quartet, Erkan Oğur and Birol Yayla.

Coincidentally, between the years of 2011-12, Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol was hired as a consultant to help curate the Turkey exhibit at the musical instruments museum (MIM) in Phoenix, Arizona.