On Sunday, 28August, the 26th annual Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (SHMF) concluded its season to much adulation with a closing concert at the Kieler Schloss. After 130 concerts and 5 Music Festivals in the Countryside, this year’s festival came to a successful end. More than 118,000 visitors took part in the 7-week festival and celebrated Turkey, this year’s highlighted country. World-class artists travelled from the land on the Black Sea to northern Germany, including the Turkish pianist and composer Fazil Say, who could be seen in several concerts. The twin sisters, Ferhan and Ferzan Önder, captivated audiences with their perfectly coordinated piano playing, while the Kurdish singer, Aynur, moved her audience with songs of love and sorrow. The clarinettist Selim Sesler wowed with his virtuosity as he performed Anatolian wedding music together with his ensemble. Apart from the highlighted country, such stars as the renowned violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and the percussion wonder Martin Grubinger also performed at the festival this year. The SHMF in 2012 will take place from 7July to 26 August and will embark on a musical journey to China. In 2013, focus will be on the Baltic States.