Istanbul Choir Days circa 2009-20011
For a number of years this was the official site for the Istanbul Choir Days.
Content is from the site's 2009 -2011 archived pages.
ABOUT from the Choir's Facebook page:
The International Istanbul Choir Days is the first and only international polyphonic choir festival in the cosmopolitan city of Istanbul.
The four day event takes place every year in the first week of November, hosting participants from all over the world. Alongside the performances at various concert venues there are other activities such as seminars, workshops and sightseeing tours to get an impression of the city.
The festival is a non-competitive event, encouraging a variety of music styles and repertoires. The participating choirs perform on three different days at three different venues. Each concert consists of three choirs, each performance with an expected duration of 20 minutes. The venues are different concert halls and historical places on both the European and the Asian side of Istanbul.
Participants can choose their accommodation in 3 or 4 star hotels, all of which are suitably located in close proximity to the concert venues and in the very heart of the city.
The mission of the International Istanbul Choir Days Festival is to become one of the most representative choir festivals of the world: based on its high number of participants, the uniqueness of its hosting city, the diverse backgrounds of the participating choirs and an overall professional organization.
International Istanbul Choir Days is an event organized by Fortuna Organization.
The concerts in this event are great way to see Istanbul, especially since they happen at a number of different venues in the Asian and European side of the city and just traveling to them is a sightseeing adventure. I was a guest of the event promoters after having worked on the online promotion effort in the US for the past year. We had some difficulties to say the least. The biggest problem was that in the US, a Google search for the event's name showed results on page 1 that included a story about the arrest of the son of our primary fundraiser for indecent exposure and resisting arrest. Google would not respond and the publisher's legal team told us that the story was true and wasn't coming down. We ruled out hiring a reputation management service to hide the result because it was just too expensive. And although we would have gone with him, the high level specialist that exclusively removed search results were also out of reach financially. So we attempted to use their technique of optimizing harmless webpages to outrank the problem search result. This was hugely time consuming and we were floundering when we realized that that negative result was not actually harming pre-sales in the US. Apparently no one cared if some troubled relative of the fund raiser made a fool of himself. After about 6 months we did manage to drive the problem to the bottom of Google's first page - that probably helped some. Anyway, it's all past, the concerts are fabulous, and the reviews are all glowing. The event was a smash success in spite of Google.
2009
37th International Istanbul Music Festival will take place from 5th to 30th of June 2009
Being the oldest of the Istanbul Festivals, the International Istanbul Music Festival is a landmark of cultural and musical life in Turkey...
Joint concert of Acappella Grup 34 and Alegria Choir (Ankara)
Acappella Grup 34 Choir and Alegria Choir from Ankara will give two joint concerts, the first being in Ankara on 6th of June 2009, the second one on 20th of June 2009 in Istanbul...
Acappella Grup 34 sang on Mother’s Day
Acappella Grup 34 gave an open-air concert for Mother’s day on 10th of May 2009 at 6 p.m. on BaÄŸdat street. Just as last year, the event was organized by the Municipality of Kadiköy who invited the choir to perform for this special occasion...
Acappella Grup 34 choir’s baroque concerts on 9th and 16th of May, 2009
Acappella Grup 34 Choir, conducted by Kevork Tavityan, performed two baroque concerts in the spring period, on 9th and 16th of May 2009, in the St.Esprit church in Harbiye...
The 2nd International Istanbul Choir Days ended
The 2nd International Istanbul Choir Days took place on 4th – 8th November 2009. The four-day festival started with the opening program on the 4th November Wednesday and ended with the closing night on the 7th November Saturday after the performance of 12 concerts. Participation in the festival increased significantly when compared to that of the previous year. While the festival hosted 10 choirs and 400 choristers last year, the number reached 16 choirs and 700 choristers this year.
The voices of the world are meeting in 2010 Istanbul European Capital of Culture
The 3rd International Istanbul Choir Days will take place on the 3rd – 8th 2010. The interest in the festival is gradually increasing due to the fact that Istanbul will become the European Capital of Culture in 2010 and there will be additional venues as well as activities to make it a much more colorful experience.
Acappella Grup 34 Choir starts its new season with a very special repertory
Acappella Grup 34 Choir, which is one of the major choirs of Istanbul, has prepared a very special repertory on the occasion of Istanbul being the European Capital of Culture in 2010. The project is titled The Last Capital Istanbul… A repertory including the polyphonic arrangements of the beautiful songs sung for entertainment in Istanbul in 1870-1920 as the last period of the city as a capital which had been the capital city of two empires throughout history. The choir is accompanied by 8 traditional Turkish Music instruments. The choir will start practicing with the rehearsal to be conducted on the 23rd November Monday. Later, it will be giving concerts both within the country and abroad until the end of 2010.
2nd INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL CHOIR DAYS
CONCERT & SEMINAR PROGRAMME
4.11.2009 -Wednesday
Saat-Time: 20.30
Ä°TÜ Maçka Kampüsü, Mustafa Kemal Amfisi
Istanbul Technical University, Maçka Campus, Mustafa Kemal Hall
Opening Ceremony & Concert
Acappella Grup 34 (Türkiye-Turkey)
Ladies & Gentlemen Ä°stanbul Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Ä°TÜ Çoksesli Korosu ve Sözsanat Grubu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Sahakyan Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
5.11.2009 Thursday
Saat-Time: 10.00
MÄ°AM Seminer Salonu
MÄ°AM Seminar Hall
Seminar:
Osmanlı-Türk MüziÄŸi, Ottoman-Turkish Music
Sunan-Speaker: Prof. Åžehvar BeÅŸiroÄŸlu
Time: 20.00
Caddebostan Culture Center - Main Hall
Grand Combin Korosu (Ä°talya-Italy)
Acappella Grup 34 (Türkiye-Turkey)
&
Kopuz Oda Orkestrası
Time: 20.00
FMV Işık Lisesi (Nişantaşı) Muvaffak Benderli Hall
Collado Villalba Korosu (Ä°spanya-Spain)
Alboka Korosu (Ä°spanya-Spain)
Surp Vartanants Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Time: 20.00
Istanbul Technical University, Maçka Campus, Mustafa Kemal Hall
Landesjugendchor Brandenburg Korosu (Almanya-Germany)
BoÄŸaziçi Üniversitesi Klasik Müzik Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Kasdav Dünya Müzikleri Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Time: 20.00
Notre Dame de Sion Concert Hall
Ladies & Gentlemen Ä°stanbul Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Garoe’ Korosu (Ä°spanya-Spain)
Sahakyan Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Time: 20.00
Üç Horan Armenian Church
Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu(SYK) Korosu (Finlandiya-Finland)
Anchora Korosu (Almanya-Germany)
Tripolis Korosu (Yunanistan-Greece)
6.11.2009 Friday
Time: 20.00
FMV Işık Lisesi (Nişantaşı) Muvaffak Benderli Hall
Garoe’ Korosu (Ä°spanya-Spain)
Kasdav Dünya Müzikleri Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu(SYK) Korosu (Finlandiya-Finland)
Ladies & Gentlemen Ä°stanbul Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Time: 20.30
Istanbul Technical University, Maçka Campus, Mustafa Kemal Hall
The Gala Concert for Serdar Öztürk’s 55th year in his art career
Anchora Korosu (Almanya-Germany)
Surp Vartanants Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Tripolis Korosu (Yunanistan-Greece)
Ä°TÜ Türk MüziÄŸi Devlet Konservatuvarı Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Ä°TÜ Çoksesli Korosu ve Sözsanat Grubu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Time: 20.00
Üç Horan Ermeni Kilisesi
Üç Horan Armenian Church
Landesjugendchor Brandenburg Korosu (Almanya-Germany)
Alboka Korosu (Ä°spanya-Spain)
Grand Combin Korosu (Ä°talya-Italy)
Collado Villalba Korosu (Ä°spanya-Spain)
7.11.2009 Saturday
Time: 10.00
Ä°stanbul Technical University, TMDK Bised Room
Republic Period, Turkish Polyphonic Music
Sunan-Speaker: Hakan Åžensoy
Time: 17.00
FMV Işık Lisesi (Nişantaşı) Muvaffak Benderli Hall
Anchora Korosu (Almanya-Germany)
Landesjugendchor Brandenburg Korosu (Almanya-Germany)
Sahakyan Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Saat-Time: 17.00
Ä°TÜ Maçka Kampüsü, Mustafa Kemal Amfisi
Istanbul Technical University, Maçka Campus, Mustafa Kemal Hall
Collado Villalba Korosu (Ä°spanya-Spain)
Grand Combin Korosu (Ä°talya-Italy)
Garoe’ Korosu (Ä°spanya-Spain)
Ä°TÜ Türk MüziÄŸi Devlet Konservatuvarı Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Time: 17.00
Notre Dame de Sion Concert Hall
Kasdav Dünya Müzikleri Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
BoÄŸaziçi Üniversitesi Klasik Müzik Korosu (Türkiye-Turkey)
Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu(SYK) Korosu (Finlandiya-Finland)
Time: 20.00
FMV Işık Lisesi (Nişantaşı) Muvaffak Benderli Hall
Closing Ceremony
Guest Group: Istanbul Essence
| 4 November 2009 | : | Arrival of the participant choirs |
| 4 November 2009 | : | Official opening ceremony & concert |
| 5-6-7 November 2009 | : | Concerts |
| 5-6-7 November 2009 | : | Excursions in Istanbul |
| 5-6 November 2009 | : | Seminar “Ottoman-Turkish Music History” |
| 7 November 2009 | : | Seminar “Turkish Choral Music” |
| 7 November 2009 | : | Closing ceremony & party |
| 8 November 2009 | : | Departure of the choirs |
2010
3rd INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL CHOIR DAYS
CONCERT & SEMINAR PROGRAMME
3rd International Istanbul Choir Days Festival
| 3 November 2010 | : | Arrival of the participant choirs |
| 3 November 2010 | : | Opening ceremony of the festival |
| 4-5-6-7 November 2010 | : | Concerts |
| 4-5-6-7 November 2010 | : | Sightseeing tours |
| 4-5-6 November 2010 | : | Seminars |
| 7 November 2010 | : | Closing ceremony & party |
| 8 November 2010 | : | Departure of the choirs |
For concerts :
- FMV Işık Lisesi Muvaffak Benderli Hall – NiÅŸantaşı
- Ä°stanbul Technical University, Maçka Campus, Mustafa Kemal Hall
- Notre Dame de Sion Concert Hall – Harbiye
- Üç Horan Armenian Church, BeyoÄŸlu
- Caddebostan Concert Hall -Kadıköy
For seminars :
- MIAM Seminar Hall, Maçka
June 2010
Info about the seminars, workshops & the sightseeing tours
September 15th, 2010
Deadline for participating to the 3rd International Istanbul Choir Days
Deadline to pay 40% of total participation amount according to the numbers of participants
September 30th, 2010Deadline for informing the exact number of the participants Deadline for paying the balance of participation amount accordingly
October 2010
Confirming the hotel, concert venues, necessary infos fort he participant choirs, releasing the program of the festival
2011
Istanbul is about to end its mission as 2010 European Cultural Capital…
Istanbul is handing over its status, which it shares with the Ruhr region in Germany and the city of Pecs in Hungary, to Turku in Finland and Tallinn in Estonia. A lot of cultural activities have been organised in Istanbul throughout 2010. One of the most striking ones has been the third International Istanbul Choir Days Festival, where around 1000 choristers from 20 countries have come together to introduce their cultures to each other by means of their songs.
International Mediterranean Choir Days Festival will be held on October 1-5, 2011 in Antalya!
Fortuna Organisation, the only organisation that regularly holds festivals in Turkey, will launch a new festival in Antalya, one of the most important tourist spots in Turkey, in 2011, after its three-year-experience in International Istanbul Choir Days Festival.
The first International Mediterranean Choir Days Festival will take place on October 1-5, 2011 in Antalya. Registration has started. You could get a detailed explanation on our website and can be in touch with us.
The fourth International Istanbul Choir Days is in Istanbul on November 16-21, 2011!
Applications have started for the fourth International Istanbul Choir Days. The festival will be held in Istanbul on November 16-21, 2011 in Istanbul. 1500 participating choristers are being expected for our ever-growing festival in its fourth year.
The 4th International Istanbul Choir Day
Dates: Wed, November 16, 2011 - Mon, November 21, 2011
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Festival Description
Join us with your choir to perform and meet choirs from all over the world in this non-competitive, the one and the only international choir festival of Istanbul.
By participating in the festival, you will be enjoying to visit one of the most attractive cities in the world and have the privilege to perform in the Capital of Civilizations in its fabolous concert venues such as theaters, churches, cultural centers, schools and squares. Istanbul, the “province” of today that was the Capital of two great empires (Byzantium & Ottoman Empires) during the 1600 years of its 3000-year history is awaiting your choir! Visit the most beautiful palaces, castles, mosques,churches, synagogues, squares and the traditional bazaars. Enjoy the beauty of the Bosphorus, which separates the two continents, Europe and Asia, where East meets West. Besides concerts, the festival promises you an unfor
gettable meeting with many other events like seminars, teaching
about Turkish traditional music, opening and closing ceremonies & parties, singing all together, gifts and some other surprizes!
Concerts:
Each choir will have two (max. three in case your choir wish) performance opportunities during the festival.
International Istanbul Choir Days Festival is a non-competitive festival and open to any kind of choir with free repertoire. Each concert will consist of three choirs, with a 20-minute-long performance apiece. The choirs will give two (three as you wish) 20-minute-long concerts on two ( max. three in case your request) different days and two (three) different venues. Two more choirs will perform at the same concert. Thus, each choir will have the opportunity to listen to the other two participating choirs on the day of its own performance.
Special Events, Seminars & Workshop :
Opening and closing nights with a guest group/choir, participation certificates, gifts, two seminars and a workshop. Participation to all events are included in the festival package price. Seminars will be cancelled in case there are less than 50 participants. There will be 2 different seminars.
At the seminar entitled Ottoman-Turkish Music, a journey from past to present, the attendees will be informed about the basic characteristics of Ottoman-Turkish music and its historical evolution. Traditional Turkish musical instruments and examples of the enduring pieces from Turkish Classical Music will be introduced live.
The subject matter of the seminar entitled Istanbul, The Last Capital is music and entertaintment life during the years 1870-1920, which mark the final 50 years of the 1600 years, when Istanbul was capital of two great empires (Byzantium & Ottoman Empires), and the participants will be provided with the opportunity to hear the enduring pieces that exemplify the polyphonic cultural legacy of Istanbul.
The workshop called Choral Singing Techniques will be held by world famous Dutch conductor Mr. Wim van Herk.
All seminars & workshop will be presented in English.
4th INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL CHOIR DAYS
CONCERT & SEMINAR PROGRAMME
| 16 November 2011 | : | Arrival of the participant choirs |
| 17 November 2011 | : | Opening ceremony of the festival |
| 17-18-19-20 November 2011 | : | Concerts |
| 17-18-19-20 November 2011 | : | Sightseeing tours |
| 17-18-19 November 2011 | : | Seminars & Workshop |
| 20 November 2011 | : | Closing ceremony & party |
| 21 November 2011 | : | Departure of the choirs |
