Formed under the auspices the Cevdet İnci Education Foundation, inspired by the principle that supporting education serves the future, the İnci Foundation Music for Peace Children’s Orchestra aims to introduce children between the ages of 6-15 to the arts. The orchestra gave a concert marking the meaning and significance of 23 April, Turkey’s Children’s Day. The audience fully immersed themselves in the joy of the concert supported by the Bornova Council and compered by Gülbin Öztürk.

Speeches were delivered by Cevdet İnci Education Foundation Vice Chairman Ece Elbirlik Ürkmez and Mayor of Bornova Olgun Atila during the programme. Atila referred to the importance of 23 April, whilst Ece Elbirlik Ürkmez said, ‘Two years ago, the Cevdet İnci Education Foundation adopted the concept of supporting education serves the future which was instrumental in creating this orchestra. Supported also by the Bornova Council, it now is a platform from 60 children between the ages of 6 and 15 to freely make music to sing of peace to ever larger audiences by the day. Today, they will be accompanied by the 40-piece Youth Orchestra from the Istanbul Music for Peace Foundation and 50 singers from the Izmir Turkish College (ITK) children’s choir. At the Cevdet İnci Foundation, our aim goes beyond touching the lives of our children now; we may well be laying the groundwork for great careers for their future.’

Later, conducted by the Izmir-born Tolga Akın, and the conductor of the Istanbul Music for Peace Orchestra Samuel Matus, the children’s choir performed their ‘Music for Peace’ repertoire. The programme of 19 pieces concluded with a resounding performance of Izmir’s Mountains to full marks from the audience.