Cyprus Art Honorary President
Conductor Gürer Aykal

Gürer Aykal’s musical career began at Ankara State Conservatory where he graduated from the Violin Department in 1963 and from Composition in 1969.  During this year, he received a state scholarship and attended The Guildhall Music School in London.  He then graduated from advance conducting departments in The Guildhall Music School and The Royal Music Academy with distinction. Following this he then received the “conductor degree” in Academia Chigiana, Italy.  After retiring from the Presidential Symphony Orchestra as permanent conductor he worked as a general director in the State Ballet and Orchestra. 

Gürer Aykal performed in many concerts with renowned orchestras throughout Europe and through his international appearences and success, he achieved the ranking of “State Artist”.  He successfully conducted many internationally celebrated orchestras such as Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, Presidential Symphony Orchestra Turkey and El Paso Symphony Orchestra Texsas. 

Gürer Aykal worked as a general music director and conductor in the USA for 16 years and became permanent conductor and general music director of El Paso Symphony Orchestra Texas between 1991 and 2003 where he attained the rank of “Professor Emeritus” .

Gurer Aykal established The Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra in 1999 where he had been the permanent conductor and general music director until September of 2008.  

Since 2006, Gürer Aykal has been the ‘Honorary Conductor’ and ‘Honorary President’  of Cyprus Art Music and Ballet School.  

Founder of Cyprus Art and Honorary General Manager 
Turgay Hilmi 

After graduating from Ankara State Conservatory in 1979, Turgay Hilmi continued his education in Nürnberg and Stuttgart.  He performed in Nürnberg State Opera Orchestra between 1981-1986. Since 1986 he has been working as lecturer in Freidrich Alexander University, Faculty of Education.

He worked with many renowned orchestras such as Coburg Opera, Jena Philharmony, Vogtland Philharmony, Thuringen Opernhaus, Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra, Köln Radio Symphony Orchestra, Nurember Symphny Orchestra and Nuremberg State Opera and Ballet Orchestra. He was a member of Kaiserburg, Augsburg and Cornetto Brass Quintetts. 

Turgay Hilmi has performed in many festivals throughout Germany, France, England, Poland, Italy, USA, Canada, China, Japan, Luxemburg, Spain and Kuwait, he also performed with Presidential Symphony Orchestra, Çukurova State Symphony, Bursa State Symphony and Borusan İstanbul Philharmonic Orchestra of Turkey as a soloist. 

Turgay Hilmi is the Honorary Representative for cultural affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Germany. He is also the general manager of Cyprus Art Music and Ballet School, and handels the international contacts of the School. 

Founder of Cyprus Art and Director
Gözlem Özdeğirmenci 

Upon graduating from Ankara State Conservatory in Hacettepe University, Gözlem Özdeğirmenci performed as a violinist in Hacettepe University Academic Symphony Orchestra as group leader. She played with different orchestras as a guest artist in Turkey, Cyprus, Belgium, Holland,Luxemburg, Greece, Germany and participated international workshops.

Gözlem Özdeğirmenci is teaching violin and piano and is the director of Cyprus Art Music and Ballet School.

Şeyda Üstünkaya 
Coordinator

Şeyda Üstünkaya graduated from Istanbul Technical University State Conservatory, Department of Instrument Manufacturing and worked at a college in Istanbul. 
Şeyda Üstünkaya is the coordinator of Cyprus Art Music and Ballet School. 

Yaprak Girgin
Piano

Yaprak Girgin graduated from Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory’s Piano Department. She has taken part in many international events and also represented the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus abroad. 

Yaprak Girgin is trainer for piano and solfegé and accompanist for Vocal Training and Youth Chorus Departments. 

Nadya Kameneva
Piano

Senem Ünal
Viola & Piano

Onur Kasapoğlu
Guitar

After graduating from the Art and Science Faculty Music Department of Eastern Meditterranean University in 2004, he continued his education at the Vocal Tech Music School in the UK.He took part in several music studies, workshops and concerts in North Cyprus and London. Currently he is working as a trainer at the Cyprus Art.

Levent Ünal
Voice & Guitar

Ceren Sökmen
Ballet and Dance Trainer

After  graduating  from  Ankara State Conservatory with degree, she performed in Ankara State Opera and Ballet as a guest artist for 7 years. She worked with international and Turkish trainers as Irek Muhammedov, Robert North, Young Soon Hue-Simon, Yannik Bquin, Sait Sökmen, Zeynep Odabaşı and Mehmet Balkan. She performed regularly at Aspendos International Ballet Festival and Marmaris Ballet Festival. She danced in more than 200  ballets, operas, operettes and children’s musicals as;

La Bayadere, Idiot, Don Quichotte, Nut Cracker, Anna Karenina, Swan Lake, Çalıkuşu, Harem, Ein Sommernachts Traum, Carmen, Bale Tango, Giselle, Carmina Burana, Sync, This is Your Life, Aida, Abduction from Seraglio, 4. Murat, Nabucco, Eugene Onegin, Blue Point, Merry Widow, Poemé de la Extase, Puss in Boots.