Ates was born to a musician family in 1975. He gave his first concert in 1983 in Istanbul Festival. Ates started his kanun education with Mehmet Ihsan Özer in the Turkish Music State Conservatory Department of Istanbul Technical University in 1986.

He continued his higher studies with Doc. Dr Fikret Kutlug, Doc. Dr. Erol Deran, Prof. Dr. Sehvar Besiroglu and Taner Savacioglu. Ates played in I.T.Ü Orchestra with conductor Doc. Dr Serdar Öztürk and in Yunus Emre Musical as first kanun at a very young age.

Ates worked with different groups and artists both in Turkey and abroad, participated to their album and stage works. He played in various film and series music in the movies and television in addition to his work with the Ministry of Culture in presenting Turkey and the Eurovision.

Ates is still actively playing in different groups and teaching Kanun, Turkish Music theory and solfege in institutes and schools.