Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra - 2011

In 2011, the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (TYPO) under the leadership of Cem Mansur continued its activities through the support of the Sabanci Foundation. The 95 young musicians between the ages of 16-22 in the Orchestra have been screened through a testing process from among approximately 400 young musicians who have applied from conservatories across Turkey.

In 2011, the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (TYPO) under the leadership of Cem Mansur continued its activities through the support of the Sabanci Foundation. The 95 young musicians between the ages of 16-22 in the Orchestra have been screened through a testing process from among approximately 400 young musicians who have applied from conservatories across Turkey.

The young musicians of the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra who engage in cooperation with international orchestras and festivals signed up in a three-week intensive training camp during August 18^th – September 7^th at Sabanci University under the leadership of Cem Mansur and master instructors who have tutored various groups of instruments.

“Polyphonic Thinking” Rehearsals at the Democracy Laboratory

During the course of the camp at Sabanci University, the orchestra members attended sessions focused on the responsibility that comes with being a musician. At the Democracy Laboratory activity, the young musicians were instructed on themes such as “team spirit”, “leadership”, “decision-making”, “responsibility”, “limits of democratic participation”, "listening to others and respecting their voice” with examples from polyphonic music settings.

Chat Nights

Young musicians from the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra convened with experts in their respective fields throughout the camp. The first guest of the “Chat Nights” was psychiatrist Prof. Yanki Yazgan. In his talk titled “Music, Heart and Brain, Orchestra and Empathy”, Yazgan discussed the impact of music on human physiology and psychology. Another guest, sculptor Mehmet Aksoy delivered a presentation titled “Music of Sculpture”, discussing the diverse perspectives of musicians who interpret the same piece differently. In his talk titled “What Kind of a World do I Want to Live in?”, the final guest of the “Chat Nights”, Psychologist Dr. Gunduz Vassaf conveyed that there is a hero that lives inside every person, and that one can manage his own life without the need of a leader.

TYPO Meets Community Volunteers Foundation

Peer instructors from Community Volunteers Foundation met the members of the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and held workshops around the themes of “Discrimination”, “Gender”, “Citizenship and Democracy” and “Living Together”. Employing methods such as case studies, role-play, simulation, small-large group work, the workshops aimed at helping the participants experience and reflect on the themes, share their thoughts and learn from each other.

Gathering at the Metin Sabanci Education and Research Center

The young musicians of the orchestra and the children receiving rehabilitation support convened through an “Awareness Meeting”. Specialists from the Foundation for Spastic Children of Turkey worked on the subject of empathy with the orchestra members to raise their awareness about the physical advantages they are equipped with and helped them perceive the feeling of “functional incapacity” and “being disabled”. The orchestra performed a mini concert for the children as well as for their families. Ensuing the concert, the orchestra members were informed about what it means to be a person living with a disability and about devising solutions around disability issues.

Concerts by the Orchestra

The Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra staged its first concert in 2011, in Hagia Irene following the Sabanci University Summer Camp, which had kicked off on August 18th. During the camp, Cem Mansur, Tayfun Bozok, Gultekin Ulutas and Safak Eriskin trained musicians through an intense rehearsal process. The orchestra, which staged a brilliant performance enthralling the spectators, commenced the concert with H.Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Ouverture, and proceeded with J. Sibelius’s Karelia Suite and F. Liszt’s Piano Concerto No.1. One of the youngest and most talented pianists in Turkey, Mertol Demirelli, too accompanied the Orchestra with his interpretation of Liszt’s Piano Concerto No 1. Demirelli who has been playing the piano since the age of 5 and who has shared the stage with some of the best pianists and conductors of Turkey both in Turkey and abroad mesmerized the audience with his performance. Concluding the concert with A. Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 "From the New World", the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra received a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes.

A classical music feast for thousands in Turkey and Europe

The Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra performed the second concert of its 2011 tour in Bursa. The Orchestra, which staged a performance at Merinos Ataturk Congress and Cultural Center on the evening of September 27, captivated Bursa’s classic music lovers with their astonishing performance.

Following the Istanbul and Bursa Concerts, the young musicians crowned their feat with the Europe tour which aimed at building bridges between Turkey and Europe and bringing nations closer through music.

More than 5000 spectators watched the concerts in Turkey and abroad. Under the leadership of Conductor Cem Mansur, the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra realized many firsts in their 2011 tour:

• Hagia Irene, which was the Orchestra’s first concert venue witnessed one of the most crowded concerts in its history drawing intense interest of the spectators.

• The young musicians surprised the audience by performing the Turkish song “Katibim” in Vienna. The young musicians of “Superar” known as the Austrian “El Sistema” sang “Katibim” and accompanied the orchestra.

• The Orchestra’s Munich concert on October, 1 as part of the “Festival of the Nations” was the only concert in the festival to be recorded by Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavyerian Radio), one of the most prominent classic music radios in the world.  

Tour Program:

September 7, 2011	Istanbul - Turkey, Hagia Irene Concert
September 27,2011	Bursa - Turkey, Bursa Concert
September 29,2011	Cologne - Germany, Leverkusen Concert
October 1, 2011	Munich - Germany, “Festival of the Nations” Concert
October 2,2011	Vienna - Austria, Konzerthaus Concert
October 3, 2011	Linz - Austria, Brucknerfest Concert
October 5, 2011	Essen - Germany, Essen Philharmonie Concert