Devlet Çoksesli Korosu (Turkish State Choir) is the leading professional choral ensemble of the country. Since its foundation in 1988 by Prof. Hikmet Şimşek, the choir acts both as a strong symphonic choir and a refined a capella ensemble. Past chief conductors include Walter Strauss, Ahter Destan, İbrahim Yazıcı and Cemi’i Can Deliorman. Since 2017, the artistic director and principal conductor is Burak Onur Erdem. Every season the choir gives more than 30 concerts including symphonic concerts with the professional symphony orchestras of Turkey, a capella programmes containing new commissions, and education concerts for youth and children.
The choir has given more than thousands concerts in all parts of Turkey and has performed in Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Israel and South Korea. In its debut concert in 1988, the choir performed under the direction of memorable Turkish composer Ahmed Adnan Saygun. Since then, notable performances include a world premiere of Harbison for Pope John Paul II in the Vatican, Mahler 2nd in Konzerthaus Berlin, Britten’s War Requiem or Verdi Requiem with prominent European symphony orchestras. Awarded the ‘Best Choral Ensemble in Turkey’ in 2010, the choir has been entitled ‘Voices from Heaven’ by music critics in Europe.
The choir has recorded many albums until now, including Orff – Carmina Burana, Mozart – Requiem, Saygun – Yunus Emre Oratorio, Say – Nazım Oratorio, a capella folk songs by Saygun and Sun. Turkish State Choir has commissioned many composers like Eurico Carrapatoso, Giovanni Bonato and Henning Sommerro. The choir initiated its choral conducting masterclass in 2016 and hosted international experts like Paulo Lourenço, Lorenzo Donati and will host Ragnar Rasmussen as guest conductor.
Turkish State Choir is a member of TENSO Network Europe as of January 2019.
visit the website www.cokseslikoro.gov.tr