Turkish artist named Best European Composer

BERLIN – Anadolu Agency

Turkish-German artist Sinem Altan has been named the winner of the European Composers Prize 2015 at the Young Euro Classic in Berlin. Altan, 30, was born in the Turkish capital Ankara and lives in Berlin. 

The award was presented as part of the Young Euro Classic Festival, organized in Berlin. The work which brought Altan the award was titled “Hafriyat” (Earthwork). 

According to a statement made by the festival committee, Altan performed her work last week at the festival accompanied by the Turkish Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Altan won a monetary prize of 5,000 euros. 

The jury members said Altan made audiences “feel the power of earth” with “Hafriyat.” 

Speaking to press members, Altan said the Turkish Youth Philharmonic Orchestra gave breath to her work and impressed the audience. “Among nine premiere works, mine was seen worthy of the award. ‘Hafriyat’ symbolizes a new era for me; I composed it for a very big orchestra,” she said.

Altan has won prizes as a pianist and composer in Turkey and Germany and was accepted by the Hanns Eisler Music Academy as a junior student at the age of only 11. Later, she initiated the concert series “Yeniliğe Doğru” (On the Road Towards Novelty), which later resulted in the founding of her ensemble Olivinn, which moves freely between European classical music, Turkish folk music and jazz.