TİKA Advances Cultural Cooperation in Colombia

With support from Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), musicians and philharmonic orchestra artists received foundational training in Turkish music at the Institute of Fine Arts at Quindío University in Armenia, Colombia.

The workshops were conducted by Turkish musician Serkan Yılmaz, who provided participants with an immersive cultural experience through his lectures on Turkish music theory. Participants remarked that exploring Turkish music felt like learning a new language and that they had developed a mini Turkish repertoire by the end of the course.

Sebastián Martínez Castro, Director of the Institute of Fine Arts, noted that the event provided a new perspective on music and offered a closer insight into Turkish culture. “Through this workshop, we discovered that Western music is not the sole source of musical inspiration and that diverse musical traditions should be preserved,” Castro said.

Commenting on the impact of cultural diversity on music, Yılmaz emphasized that exploring various musical traditions enhances musicians’ creativity. “Turkish music offers a unique approach to thinking, composing and writing. This new perspective will enrich the work of every musician here,” Yılmaz said.

Concert featuring Turkish compositions held

At the conclusion of the workshop, Colombian artists attended a concert by Serkan Yılmaz at Quindío University. The performance, which featured Colombian musicians playing Turkish compositions, was highly praised by the audience.

Rector Luis Fernando Polanía Obando, Vice Rector Alejandra María Giraldo García, Director of the International Relations Office Eduardo Perafán Del Campo and TİKA officials attended the concert.

David Gómez Ramírez, concertmaster of the Uniquindío Philharmonic Orchestra, commented on the training: “These workshops introduced us to the fundamentals of Eastern music. We learned a great deal in just one week. It was both enjoyable and enriching to have this opportunity provided by TİKA.”

Quindío University’s Institute of Fine Arts is a prestigious arts education center with a 30-year history, and it is home to the region’s only philharmonic orchestra. With branches across the country, the Institute offers music education to approximately 2,000 people annually.