Image: Daily Sabah
In July and August, the 2026 edition of the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra is embarking on a concert tour of Turkey, Germany and Romania.
The orchestra is the brainchild of conductor Cem Mansur, who founded it in 2007. Every year he carries out auditions at state conservatoires and fine arts lycées all over the country, looking for exceptionally talented young musicians aged between 15 and 22. The successful candidates are then invited to come to Istanbul in July for two or three weeks of rehearsals, following which the orchestra gives concerts in Turkey and in Europe. Sponsored by the Sabancı Foundation, Rönesans Sağlık Yatırım, the Sevda-Cenap And Music Foundation and the Turkish Ministry of Culture, this orchestra brings freshness and youthful enthusiasm to everything it plays, and its performances are always highly rewarding. The theme of this year’s concert programme is ‘Magic and Fairy Tales’.
Here is the orchestra’s programme for 2026:
TUESDAY JULY 28
Amphitheatre, Ayvalık
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture
Popper: Hungarian Rhapsody (cello solo: Ege Dikbıyık)
Saint-Saëns: Havanaise (violin solo: Nil İpek Şabi)
Ravel: Tzigane (violin solo: Maria Rahmatulla)
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite
This concert is free of charge.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29
Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Centre Hall, Izmir
20.30
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No 1 (soloist: Özgür Ünaldı)
Emre Şener: Je ne sais quoi (a work specially commissioned by the orchestra)
Ravel: Mother Goose Suite
Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
This concert is free of charge, but it is advisable to reserve places.
THURSDAY, JULY 30
Uludağ University State Conservatoire, Bursa
Saint-Saëns: Havanaise (violin solo: Nil İpek Şabi)
Bottesini: Fantasia on Bellini’s ‘La Sonnambula’ (double bass solo: Büşra Başoğlu)
Ravel: Mother Goose Suite
Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
This concert is free of charge.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1
Lütfi Kırdar Anadolu Auditorium, Istanbul
20:00
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No 1 (soloist: Özgür Ünaldı)
Emre Şener: Je ne sais quoi (a work specially commissioned by the orchestra)
Ravel: Mother Goose Suite
Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Tickets from Biletinial
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
Das Zentrum, Europasaal, Bayreuth (Young Artists Bayreuth Festival)
19.00
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture
Bottesini: Fantasia on Bellini’s ‘La Sonnambula’ (double bass solo: Büşra Başoğlu)
Saint-Saëns: Havanaise (violin solo: Nil İpek Şabi)
Ravel: Mother Goose Suite
Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Tickets from Young Artists Bayreuth Festival
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5
Friedrichsforum, Bayreuth (Young Artists Bayreuth Festival)
19.00
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No 1 (soloist: Özgür Ünaldı)
Emre Şener: Je ne sais quoi (a work specially commissioned by the orchestra)
Ravel: Mother Goose Suite
Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Tickets from Young Artists Bayreuth Festival
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
Klosterkirche Maria Immaculata, Speinshart (Young Artists Bayreuth Festival)
19.00
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture
Bottesini: Fantasia on Bellini’s ‘La Sonnambula’ (double bass solo: Büşra Başoğlu)
Saint-Saëns: Havanaise (violin solo: Nil İpek Şabi)
Ravel: Mother Goose Suite
Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Tickets from Young Artists Bayreuth Festival
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8
Konzerthaus, Berlin (Young Euro Classic Festival)
19.00
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No 1 (soloist: Özgür Ünaldı)
Emre Şener: Je ne sais quoi (a work specially commissioned by the orchestra)
Ravel: Mother Goose Suite
Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Tickets from Young Euro Classic Festival
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11
Casino Hall, Sinaia, Romania (Vară Magică Summer Festival)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12
Romanian Atheneum, Bucharest, Romania (Vară Magică Summer Festival)
19.30
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No 1 (soloist: Özgür Ünaldı)
Emre Şener: Je ne sais quoi (a work specially commissioned by the orchestra)
Ravel: Mother Goose Suite
Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Tickets from Enescu Philharmonic
Image: Daily Sabah
