Akses attended the Istanbul Municipal Conservatory, the Vienna Academy and Prague State Conservatory. Upon his return to Turkey in 1934, he took a position as teacher of composition at the Music Teacher's School. He also served as director general of the Fine Arts Section of the Ministry of Education, cultural attach‚ in Berne and Bonn, and director to the State Opera in Ankara. He has written only a few works, but as a member of The Turkish Five he has been instrumental in advancing the western musical style in the east. His works are clearly influenced by the styles of central Europe but also employ adaptations of ancient Turkish folk music.