In the special opening concert, Hacettepe Symphony Orchestra performed famous Turkish composer Cetin Isikozlu’s new piece entitled “The New World Symphony” dedicated to the SCA Foundation.

Other highlights of last year’s festival were Cuban Vocal Sampling (an acapella group comprised of six young Cuban men), The Aluminum Show (innovative show that blends dance and theater with special effects),  Ennio Marchetto’s mime show (world-famous Italian comedian) and world-famous cellist  Mischa Maisky’s performance with Bilkent Symphony Orchestra.  


Dazzling 2009 programme

26th International Ankara Music Festival will begin with an opening concert which will be performed by Hacettepe Symphony Orchestra on April 4.  Traditionally, the festival begins and ends with a concert performed by symphony or philharmonic orchestras.  

Major orchestras including Hacettepe Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Academic Baskent, Presidential Symphony Orchestra, Ankara State Opera and Ballet Orchestra and Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra will be dominating this year’s festival.  

"2009, year of orchestras" will continue with performances by Croatian HGM Jazz Orchestra and Greater Ankara Municipality City Orchestra.  HGM Jazz Orchestra will accompany world-famous jazz singer Yildiz ?brahimova, where the Greater Ankara Municipality City orchestra will take the audience on a nostalgic tour with their “Classic 45’s” concept.

Two other highlights of the festival are Israeli rhythm and dance group “Sheketak,” and Italian acrobatic dance company “Kataklo.”

There will be a special program to mark April 23, National Sovereignty and Children Day where renowned improvisers Christian Plouvier (flautist) and Hakan Ali Toker (pianist) and Akyurt Children Choir and young talent Cem Anil will perform all together.  It will be an entertaining and educational event for children and parents.  The festival will end on April 30.  


Festival in history

With the mission to raise consciousness, promote and develop polyphonic music in Turkey and to support the Turkish composers and their works, the Sevda-Cenap And Music (SCA) Foundation decided to organize a festival in the capital called the “International Ankara Music Festival.”

The festival is organized every year beginning on April 4, in the memory of Cenap And, the founder of the SCA Foundation.  

The first festival was organized under the name of “Tourism 85 Ankara Art Festival” in 1985.  In the past 25 years, over 600 concerts have been held and the festival has attracted an estimated 350.000 people. What made this festival fun and unique for 25 years is the variety of high-class programs, which gather music lovers with legendary musicians, world-famous orchestras, soloists and dance companies.