https://www.womco.online/post/baroque-brilliance-and-modern-dedication-the-award-winning-journey-of-erciyes-university-student-ch 

Baroque Brilliance and Modern Dedication: The Award-Winning Journey of Erciyes University Student Chamber Orchestra 

Erciyes University Student Chamber Orchestra 2025 Dr.J.A was awarded the Absolute First Prize in the Best Chamber Music category in the Mozart International Music Competition UK 2025 Season 1.

Biography Throughout the 2024–2025 academic year, we studied diligently. In May and June 2025, our chamber orchestra performed six concerts: at the Kayseri Music High School, in the town of Urgup in Cappadocia, at a concert organized by the TEV Foundation, at Nuh Naci Yazgan University, and with two concerts at our own university — Erciyes University.

Could you tell us a bit about how your chamber orchestra was formed and what playing music together means to your group?

Our student chamber orchestra is a compulsory educational class for 3rd and 4th-year students who play string instruments in the music department of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Erciyes University. Rehearsals are held twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, for two hours each. Since September 2024, the Chamber Orchestra has been conducted by violinist and soloist Dr. Javid Asadov. The orchestra's repertoire includes music ranging from the Baroque period to works by contemporary composers. We really enjoy rehearsing and making music together, which makes the orchestra classes very engaging and inspiring!

How did your chamber orchestra prepare for the award-winning video performance of Vivaldi’s Concerto in A minor, and what was the rehearsal process like?

Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in A minor is one of the most popular pieces in the violin repertoire. That’s why we chose this concerto to participate in the Mozart Competition in the category of Best Chamber Music. We listened to many interpretations of Vivaldi’s A minor Concerto performed by renowned orchestras and violinists. With great dedication and patience, we rehearsed the concerto, striving to convey the tempo and musical style of the Baroque era as accurately as possible. Performing Vivaldi’s music is always a truly enchanting, exciting, and inspiring experience for us. It was incredibly engaging! We are happy that we succeeded — and that we won the Mozart Competition!

Were there any memorable moments during rehearsals?

After we learned Antonio Vivaldi’s concerto, we moved to the concert hall for further rehearsals and video recording. Rehearsing in the concert hall inspired and motivated us even more. During the video recording for the Mozart Competition, we were very focused and concentrated, as our main goal was to win the competition. During breaks, we drank tea and coffee, joked around, and took photos together.

Is there anyone your chamber orchestra would like to thank—such as your leaders, teachers, parents, or other supporters?

Of course, we are deeply grateful to our dear teacher, Dr. Javid Asadov, for his talent, boundless dedication, extensive performance experience, and the tremendous work he has invested in the development and education of our student chamber orchestra. His immense support and deep respect for us are truly valuable. We are also very thankful to our beloved piano teacher and the pianist of our chamber orchestra, Gulnara Zhorobekova.

On behalf of the orchestra, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Dean of our Faculty, the esteemed Prof. Dr. Oya Levendoglu, and her deputies, Dr. Ozlem Dogan and Dr. Suheyla Cicek, for the great support they provided us throughout the entire preparation for the Mozart Competition and during the 2024–2025 academic year. We would also like to thank the organizers and jury of the Mozart Competition on behalf of the orchestra. We are incredibly grateful and happy to have been awarded the absolute first prize at the Mozart Competition. Such a high recognition became an even greater motivation for our further musical growth.

Knowing that the competition would take place in the UK, and as a sign of our respect, along with Vivaldi’s concerto we also recorded and submitted a piece by the renowned British composer Karl Jenkins — Palladio (Concerto Grosso for Strings), 1st movement. We would also like to list the names of all the members of our chamber orchestra who participated and won at the Mozart Competition: Dr. Javid Asadov, Gulnara Zhorobekova, Hoshgeldi Gurbandurdyyev, Rojbin Uslu, Pinar Yangin, Sila Cavus, Sudenur Colak, Neslihan Ezgi Celebi, Burcu Kevser Tugrul, Mehmet Ata Ates, Gulfem Akdemir, Zeynep Koc, Fazli Eren Bozdogan, Mehmet Ertas, Beyza Kavak, Gorkem Kurtuncioglu.

Many thanks to everyone who supported us, and best wishes from Turkiye!

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