Orchestra seeks musical talent in remote villages

DENİZLİ - Anatolia News Agency

The Anatolian Philharmonic Orchestra is visiting the villages to find musically talented children and young people along with the ones who have a knack for painting. AA photos

The Anatolian Philharmonic Orchestra, founded by the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, is visiting villages throughout the country in search for musically talented children to educate them.
“We will use the fine arts to bring together the people of Anatolia by visiting villages and finding talented children, even in the most remote parts of the country,” said Kenan Gökkaya, founder and director of the orchestra. “We will visit villages in order to discover new Beethovens, Pavarottis, Mozarts and Aşık Veysels. This is our biggest dream to educate these children.”

Turkish music merged with Western music
He also said one purpose of the orchestra was to merge Turkey’s national musical culture with Western music. “We aim make Turkish music more universal and make it a type of music that is listened to around the world.”

Gökkaya said the orchestra was a kind of traveling cultural center. “A 55-person bus has been turned into a traveling cultural center by the Association of Turkish Travel Agents (TÜRSAB). In collaboration with the culture and national education ministries, we will introduce the art of music to children.”
He said artists of the Anatolian Philharmonic Orchestra would establish individual relationships with citizens in various provinces and help enrich their imaginations by answering questions about the arts and music.
Gökkaya said children who get involved in music or any other branch of art would not acquire bad habits. “We want to show our children that they can become musicians, painters, opera artists and so on. We want to reveal their hidden talents and allow society to benefit from their gifts.”
“We have separated our conservatory into two parts: Turkish music and Western music,” Gökkaya said. “The Anatolian Philharmonic Orchestra has every type of instrument. We have lute, violin, kanun, reed, tanbur, kemancha, santoor, kudum (small double drum), tambourine and bell.”
As a result, he said, “Western and Turkish musicians can come together. We aim to make the music of forgotten Turkish artists be among the most popular worldwide. Using music we will push for peace and break barriers.”
Gökkaya said the orchestra would also show that Turkey has music that can be exported to the rest of the world. “The instruments used in Western and Turkish music are played together to make the best music. Using this method, the orchestra can play music that belongs to the whole world.”

A new line for art to be established
Gökkaya said a member of the orchestra who also paints hopes to discover children who have a knack for painting as well. “From now on, the arts will be accessible to villagers who deserve to have this sort of education.”
He said that a new line, “I want art,” will be established in the near future. “We will look into and try to meet the demands that will come to this art line. Art is a need like water and weather. We will meet this need.”