The New York Atatürk Choir, which continues its activities under the Turkish and International Music Society (TIME) Association, gave a concert at the General Grant National Memorial Park in Manhattan’s Harlem district to promote Turkish music.
Music lovers from the US and other nationalities gathered at the venue where Turkish music was played.
“By organizing our concerts in public venues, we aim to increase access and bring our music to a wider audience,” said Özlem Rozantis, President of TIME Association.
Stating that the Atatürk Choir is composed of “amateur and professional music lovers who are devoted to music,” Rozantis said, “Our goal is to represent our music and culture in the best way possible and to gain a place in the American cultural scene.”
The choir’s music director Fuat Taner Tokgözol said, “We collaborate with musicians from different origins. We enrich our music with western music genres such as waltz, rock, fusion, ballad and bolero.”
“We share the richness of our melodies, rhythms and maqams with Americans by presenting a wide repertoire from the Balkans to Eastern Anatolia, from folk music to art music,” Tokgözol said.
Founded in 2008 by the late musician Nedim Katgı, the association also supports talented vocalists and musicians interested in Turkish music, offering them opportunities to learn about Turkey’s cultural heritage.
