Post-Concert: STOA Orchestra in Izmir, Turkey

This summer, I was happy to take part as a soloist—alongside my guitarist friend Cem Çeliksırt—in the STOA Orchestra Camp led by Tolga Taviş.

On July 22nd in Şirince, and on July 23rd at the closing concert held at the Ahmet Adnan Saygun Arts Center in İzmir, I performed Wieniawski’s Polonaise No. 2 and Saint-Saëns’ Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso, while Cem performed Rodrigo’s widely known Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar.

The young musicians at this camp, held in Şirince from July 16th–23rd, had the chance to work with some of the country’s most esteemed professors and instructors. During this time, alongside our solo pieces (whose accompaniments were far from easy), they meticulously rehearsed and performed works that are demanding even for professional orchestras—such as Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 and Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”—under the direction of Tolga Taviş.

Having experienced, back when I was a student, just how positively this kind of immersive camp can shape one’s own development, I find it truly valuable that such a rare opportunity is being offered. I’d like to thank everyone whose efforts made this project possible.

Photos: Mehmet Emin