Bursa Chamber Orchestra, established by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality within the Orchestra Branch Directorate, met with art lovers by giving its first concert with Conductor Oğuzhan Balcı, Soloists Cihat Aşkın and Mesut Çaşka, and Konsertmeister Ozan Sari.
The Metropolitan Municipality, which continues its work to keep culture and art alive in every corner of Bursa, has brought a new breath to the city's art life by establishing the Bursa Chamber Orchestra under the Orchestra Branch Directorate. Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey and his wife Seden Bozbey, CHP Bursa Deputy Prof. Dr. Kayıhan Pala, Metropolitan Municipality bureaucrats and many art lovers attended the opening concert of the Chamber Orchestra at the Merinos Atatürk Congress and Culture Center.
The orchestra was conducted by Artist Oğuzhan Balcı, and Turkey's leading violin virtuosos Cihat Aşkın and Mesut Çaşka took the stage as soloists. The concert, which was also performed by concertmaster Ozan Sari, featured an evening full of art for the people of Bursa. The night, which featured works by important names from the world and Turkish music scene such as Edward Elgar, Muammer Sun, Kara Karayev, Oğuzhan Balcı and Pablo de Sarasate, also featured original arrangements of distinguished works from Turkish music. At the end of the concert, the artists were given a standing ovation by the people of Bursa for a long time. The Chamber Orchestra, which will give a total of four concerts this season, will give periodic concerts once a month next season.
At the end of the concert, Mayor Mustafa Bozbey came on stage and congratulated the artists, and said that they aimed to be the best in Turkey in art as in every field. Stating that Bursa is a city extremely rich in terms of art, Mayor Bozbey said, “The change of societies and cities is achieved through culture, art, sports and education. We have done this in Nilüfer for years and reaped the fruits. Now it is the turn of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality. We have to create this change together in all 17 of our districts. As administrators, we have to reveal and present these riches of Bursa. We will achieve this together.”
Bursa Chamber Orchestra Conductor Oğuzhan Balcı stated that every citizen should have the right to access art. Explaining that an important project was undertaken with the support of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, Balcı said, “Bursa’s magnificent cultural values are igniting the spark of a formation for the first time tonight. Bursa Chamber Orchestra will take the stage not only in the center but also in all districts and villages. We are laying the foundations of an orchestra that carries important traces of national and world music.”
