Turkish musician in New York orchestra

PARIS - Agence France-Presse

The only Turkish artist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Fora Baltacıgil, 29, has beaten 300 other artists and has been chosen as the counter bass group chef at the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the world’s most important orchestras.

Baltacıgil, from a family of musicians, and was taught double bass by his father. At the age of 14 he also took part in Gary Karr’s master classes. Another decisive influence came from Hal Robinson and Edgar Meyer at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where Baltacıgil studied and earned his diploma in 2006.

He acquired his first orchestral experience as a substitute in the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra. His first permanent engagement as principal bass took him to the Minnesota Orchestra in 2006. In March 2006 he took the first prize in the Caprio Young Artists Competition of the Riverside Symphonia in New York.

In September 2009 he moved to the Berliner Philharmoniker. He performed solo and chamber music works at the Kingston Chamber Music Festival in Rhode Island July 2007. In 2008 he was a member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble and also took part in major festivals as a soloist and chamber musician.
In June 2007 he and his brother, Efe Baltacigil, associate principal cello of the Philadelphia Orchestra, gave the opening performance of the Istanbul Classical Music Festival.

Within the scope of the 40th year anniversary, the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), the Baltacıgil brothers will take part in a concert as soloists on Sept. 27 at the Haliç Congress Center. The concert will be played by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.