Events | Zorlu Performing Arts Center

Beşiktaş Children’s Choir is a project that was developed by Choir Conductor and Music Teacher Güneş Kaya over many years, in collaboration with Ms. Zeynep Civelek Çaynak, and finally brought to life in 2016.

Since its establishment, Beşiktaş Children’s Choir has given numerous concerts and performances, taking part in a wide range of projects, including social responsibility initiatives, music videos, concerts as special guests, children’s programs, brand launch concerts, and commercial shoots. The choir has performed alongside musical ensembles such as the Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Orchestra and Chorus, the Beşiktaş Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Istanbul Opera Chamber Orchestra.

The choir opened the second day of the 1st Pera International Choral Festival and performed the children’s choir section of Carmina Burana together with the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Orchestra and Chorus. It continued its achievements by receiving the “Achievement in Polyphonic Song Interpretation” award at the 5th Sansev Istanbul International Polyphonic Choirs Festival, the “Achievement in Saip Egüz Song Interpretation” award at the 6th Sansev Istanbul International Polyphonic Choirs Festival, and the “Homogeneity” award as well as the special “Nevit Kodallı” award, presented in honor of the renowned composer, at the 7th Sansev Istanbul International Polyphonic Choirs Festival. In May 2022, the choir received the “Musicality – Musical Dynamics” award at the Izmir Polyphonic Choirs Festival, organized by the Izmir Branch of the Turkish Polyphonic Choirs Association. Most recently, at the 8th Sansev Istanbul International Polyphonic Choirs Festival, the choir received the “Cemal Reşit Rey Special Award” and the “Achievement in Choral Tone” award.

Having had the opportunity to work with distinguished composers and performers, the Beşiktaş Children’s Choir’s repertoire includes songs in Turkish as well as English, Italian, French, Latin, and Hebrew.

In addition to classical music, Beşiktaş Children’s Choir has performed special concerts with artists such as Levent Yüksel, Tarkan, Soner Arıca, Sertab Erener, Cem Adrian, Kenan Doğulu, Can Şengün, Murat Dalkılıç, and maNga. The choir has also participated in studio recordings with some of these artists and contributed to their albums.

The choir is conducted by Güneş Kaya, accompanied on piano by Duru Korkutlar, while Selçuk Taçalan serves as the choir coordinator. The choir is also a member of the Choral Culture Association.

The aim of this lifelong project is to bring together musically talented children from different schools, enabling them to connect with one another, receive fundamental music education, and develop through the culture of polyphonic choral music. The project also aims to provide children with opportunities to actively participate in innovative and pioneering artistic projects, contribute to their social lives, and help raise confident and accomplished individuals in the field of art.

In short, as the unforgettable conductor and composer Hikmet Şimşek once said: “YES TO ART.”

Choir Name: Beşiktaş Children’s Choir Choir Founder & Conductor: Güneş Kaya Choir Pianist: Duru Korkutlar Choir Coordinator: Selçuk Taçalan