March 8, 2026
HÜADK Concert Hall
Saygun Philharmonic Choir
Choirmaster: Çiğdem Aytepe
The works that placed in the top three at the 1st Taviloğlu National Choral Composition Competition were performed by the Saygun Philharmonic Women’s Choir on International Women’s Day, March 8, at the Concert Hall of Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory.
Organized through the efforts of the Ankara Choral Music Association, Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory, and the Sevda Cenap And Music Foundation, the event featured Following performances by the Ankara Fine Arts High School Girls’ Choir under the direction of Canan Temel Sayın, the Muzaffer Arkan Choral Choir under the direction of Nilgün Tuzkaya, and the Ankara Choral Choir, the Saygun Philharmonic Women’s Choir, under the direction of Çiğdem Aytepe, gave the premiere performance of the award-winning works from the competition:
Third Prize:
Korhan Doğan, “Halk Polikliniği” (People’s Clinic)
Second Prize:
Yiğit Can Eyüboğlu, “Sanma ki” (Don’t Think That)
First Prize:
Çiğdem Aytepe, “Yün Yastık, Taş Yastık" (Wool Pillow, Stone Pillow)
İstemihan Taviloğlu (April 15, 1945, Tekirdağ – March 17, 2006, İzmir) was a Turkish composer and music educator, and one of the leading figures in contemporary Turkish music of the Republican era. He is remembered as the first Turkish composer to write a clarinet concerto. He taught solfège and harmony for many years at the Ankara State Conservatory, was part of the founding faculty of the institution’s Musicology Department, and played a direct role in the education of numerous musicians over the course of nearly twenty years.
He worked with prominent composers such as Adnan Saygun, İlhan Usmanbaş, and Erçivan Saydam; and also received instruction in various fields from figures such as Ulvi Cemal Erkin, Muammer Sun, İlhan Baran, Ruşen Ferit Kam, and Kemal İlerici, thereby acquiring a comprehensive musical education. After completing his composition studies in the early 1970s, he began teaching as an instructor at the same institution. As an educator, Taviloğlu has contributed to the development of many important musicians; his students include renowned artists such as Fazıl Say, Ferhan Önder, Hande Dalkılıç, and Anjelika Akbar.
Soprano
Aylin Genç
Doğa Kılıç
Emine Cerit Ay
Gözde Özdil
Hayriye Çiftçi
İdil Yavuz Aktaş
İlknur Erten
Merve Apaydın
Nazlı Deniz Baydar
Nazlı Ünlüsoy
Neris Özen
Nesrin Dağdeviren
Zelal Karataş
Alto
Ayşegül Çağlak
Banu Arkan Manap
Didem Molla
Esra Dizici
Halise Devrimci Özgüven
Peren Tuzkaya Sayın
Seçil Vural
Tuğba Solukçu Canpınar
Piano: Yiğit Yüksel
Darbuka: Umut Hadim
