Born in Istanbul in 1935, İnci Çayırlı enrolled at the Istanbul Municipal Conservatory in 1953 and joined TRT Istanbul Radio in 1954. She worked for many years in the choir of the renowned Münir Nurettin Selçuk.

Between 1977 and 1985, she directed the Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music Choir, and between 1990 and 1995, she directed the Ministry of Culture Bursa State Turkish Art Music Choir, which she helped establish.

Her life, marked by significant contributions to Classical Turkish Music, came to an end in 2021.