"World Choral Music Symposium and Concerts" Begins in Istanbul...

The World Choral Music Symposium, organized by the International Federation for Choral Music, began with a concert held at the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM).

At the concert held in the AKM Türk Telekom Opera Hall, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, a two-time Grammy Award winner in the "Best Choral Performance" category, and the State Polyphonic Choir, which for 35 years has played a role in bringing choral music to wide audiences in Türkiye, took the stage together under the theme "Bridges." The concert, among whose guests was TÜROB President Müberra Eresin, opened with the welcoming speech of Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Özgül Özkan Yavuz.

At the concert, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, under the direction of its founding conductor Tonu Kaljuste, performed works by Veljo Tormis, one of the country's leading composers. The State Polyphonic Choir, under the direction of guest conductor Ragnar Rasmussen from Norway, presented works by various composers from Türkiye and Norway for the audience's enjoyment.

At the gala concerts to be held in the AKM Türk Telekom Opera Hall, three world-renowned and award-winning choirs will meet music lovers each evening. The Batavia Madrigal Singers from Indonesia, the Georgia State University Choir from the USA, and Orfeon San Juan Bautista from Puerto Rico will take the stage tomorrow. Le Chant Sur La Lowe from Gabon, the Sofia Vokalensemble from Sweden, and the Vancouver Youth Choir from Canada will appear before the audience on April 27. The Fayha National Choir from Lebanon, the Taipei Philharmonic Chamber Choir from Taiwan, and the Spanish Leioa Kantika Korala will take the stage on April 28.

At the World Choral Music Symposium, which the International Federation for Choral Music is holding after a six-year interval and which is also the first choral gathering worldwide following the COVID-19 pandemic, the world premieres of works composed for the symposium by composers from Türkiye, Venezuela, Singapore, the USA, Germany and Malaysia under the theme "Changing Horizons" will also take place.

The symposium, which features a total of 55 choirs and 2,500 choristers and offers a distinguished program with more than 150 exhibitions, workshops and events, will present 44 concerts at 11 different venues, and the event will run until April 30.

For detailed information and program; https://www.wscmistanbul2023.com