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EFA Jubilee celebrated in Izmir: Finale Excitement of the Young Composers

18 September 2012

Only a few days to the result of the 8th Dr. Nejat F. Eczacibasi National Composition Contest, finale excitement has gripped the young composers whose works will compete. On 18 September 2012, Tuesday at 20.00 hrs., the Izmir State Opera and Ballet Orchestra will perform the works named "Kuyucakli Yusuf" by Murat Cem Orhan and "Zümrüd-ü Anka" by Mesruh Savas under conduct of Tulio Gagliardo Varas. After the concert that will be made with the cooperation of Izmir Foundation for Culture Arts and Education (IKSEV) and IZDOB, the audience in Elhamra Hall, the orchestra members and the selection committee of the contest will determine the winner and the runner-up. As per the tradition of the Dr.Nejat F.Eczacıbaşı National Composition Contest, the CD recordings of the works will also be made at the moment of performance. Also, the choreographies of both works will be made and they will be staged by being included in State Opera and Ballet repertoire. DEDICATION TO THE EUROPEAN FESTIVALS ASSOCIATION (EFA) İzmir Foundation for Culture Arts and Education (İKSEV) which organises a National Composition Contest with the aim encouraging the young Turkish composers to produce more works and by recording their works during their first performance to ensure their permanence and popularisation, dedicated the work that will win the 8th Dr.Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı Composition Contest to the European Festivals Association (EFA) which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. ‘’I AM HAPPY TO BE A FINALIST’’ One of the finalists of the contest, Uludağ University State Conservatory academic member Assistant Professor Dr. Mesruh Savaş said; “I am extremely happy to be a finalist again in the Eczacıbaşı National Composition Contest which is the most qualified, permanent and consistent composition contest of our country where I had participated in and was awarded with honourable mention in 2004. The award I have received in the Eczacıbaşı composition contest 8 years ago and the CD record made have provided a great contribution for my identity as a composer to be known by the other orchestras and orchestra conductors of our country and my works to be included in repertoire although I was young. In this meaning, I believe that the contest continues to set an objective to the young composers in their worlds of creativity and also to function with the mission of an institute.’’ The other finalist Murat Cem Orhan who carries on his master’s degree studies with Prof.Güzin Gürel in Istanbul University State Conservatory, explained his opinions about the contest as follows: ‘’The concept of art which is tried to be caused to forget in today’s Turkey, which is the locomotive of civilization carries a high degree importance not only for artists but for a whole nation by virtue of our one and only national composition contest that exists. I present my endless gratitude to Eczacıbaşı Family and the whole High Art Committee for this precious formation.’’ İzmir Foundation for Culture Arts and Education (İKSEV), [http://www.efa-aef.eu/en/festivals/members/profile/714/International%20Izmir%20Festival/]International Izmir Festival, member of the European Festivals Association since 2003