After studies in Istanbul and Ankara, horn player Mahir Kalmik perfected his musical knowledge in Germany, first in Stuttgart with Radovan Vlatković and later in Cologne with the renowned Erich Penzel. Initially he worked in orchestras in Koblenz and Duisburg, then his professional orchestral career as a solo horn took off in the orchestra of the Frankfurt Opera.

Kalmik also delves into pedagogical challenges. In the past years he led a class of horn players in his native Istanbul and is currently teaching at the Mainz School of Music.