Disabled orchestra performs in Turkish capital

MERSİN - Anatolia News Agency

Visually impaired performers and students from Hacettepe University’s Ankara State Conservatory recently performed together as the “Orchestra Without Disabilities” to raise awareness of the needs of disabled people.

The group performed as part of the project “We Are Inside Life,” organized by the university with the support of the Presidency Presentation Fund.

“Both symphonic concerts and supporting disabled people are very important, and we are happy to support this project,” said Project Coordinator Füsun Balkaya to the Anatolia news agency, adding that the project does not have enough support. “In 2012 we aim to support these events more. We take this very seriously, both the management and the orchestra members,” Balkaya said.

People with disabilities are not active enough in society, Balkaya said. “We aim to make them more active in society through cultural and arts events.”

Conducted by brothers Selim and Kerim Altınok, the orchestra performed compositions by Vivaldi, Mozart, Yunus Emre, Aşık Veysel, Kerim Altınok and Münir Nureddin Selçuk. The orchestra’s art director is Yüksel Memiş, and Linda Kaso and Gürkan Kömürcü accompany him on stage. The orchestra’s second concert will take place on May 10 at the Istanbul Hilton.