Hi everyone,

This time I'm not writing about a concert that I'm in, but it's for an important cause, so I hope you don't mind.

I'm currently studying violin with the fabulous Müge Büyükçelen, who plays in the Victoria Symphony and the Emily Carr String Quartet, and who is originally from Türkiye. As you know, there was an earthquake in the Eastern part of the country, and Syria a couple months ago. Müge wants to do what she can to help people there, who are still struggling, and she is putting on a benefit concert in order to help. Admission to this concert will be by donation and all proceeds will go to earthquake relief.

This concert will feature compositions by Turkish composers Fazıl Say and Ahmet Adnan Saygun, as well as works by Elgar, Mozart and Gernet. In additon to Müge, it will include the Emily Carr String Quartet, pianist Robert Holliston (who was a soloist with the Civic Orchestra of Victoria in our last concert), flautist Arin Sarkissian and organist Donald Hunt.

It'll be at Christchurch Cathedral in Victoria on May 13th, at 4pm. More information is available here.

Most of you already know that this is extra important to me because Eldan is also from Türkiye, and while we are fortunate enough to say that nobody we know has been directly affected by the earthquake there, we have been hearing lots of stories about how much damage the quake caused and how people still need help- it’s no exaggeration to say that whole cities were flattened.

Thanks for listening, and I hope to see you there.
Melinda