Born in Adana, Suna Kan was five years old when she started her violin lessons from her father, Nuri Kan. Furthermore, she worked with Walter Gerhardt, Gilbert Back, İzzet Nezihi Albayrak and Lico Almar. She was only nine years old when she performed Mozart’s “Violin Concerto no. 5” in her first concert. In 1948, she went to Paris with İdil Biret on scholarship under a special law for exceptionally gifted children. In 1952 she graduated from the conservatory where she studied under Gabriel Bouillon with first class honours. Suna Kan was awarded the first prize at the Genova International Competition in 1954. She won the second prize at the Viotti International Competition in 1995 and at the Munich International Competition in 1956. The artist was awarded with the Paris City Prize at the M. Long - J. Thibaud International Competition in 1957.

For many years, she performed as a solo artist and the Principal Violin at the Presidential Symphony Orchestra and the Ankara Chamber Orchestra which she has been a founder of. Renowned for her extensive repertoire and her principle of including contemporary violin literature and works by Turkish compositors in her programmes, Suna Kan received the honorary title of the “State Artist” for her contribution to the Turkish art and her exceptional services in 1971. Covering almost all the continents of the world with her extensive tours, Kan has given concerts in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Russia, China, Japan, Canada, United States and South American countries. Distinguished orchestras which have collaborated with the artist in her concerto performances include London Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Bamberg Symphony, Moscow Symphony and France National Radio Symphony orchestras. Istvan Kertesz, Walter Susskind, Zubin Mehta, Hans Rosbaud, Louis Fremaux, Gotthold Lessing and Michel Plasson can be listed among the great conductors who accompanied her with their orchestras, while Yehudi Menuhin, Igor Bezrodni, Pierre Fournier, Andre Navarra and Frederick Riddle can be counted among the celebrated solo artists with whom she has performed “double concertos”.