ISTANBUL - The Mersin International Music Festival was admitted to the European Festivals Association.
According to a statement issued from the festival board on Monday, the Mersin International Music Festival that was held for the sixth time this year between May 20th and 30th was admitted to EFA membership at a meeting in Brussels between May 7th and May 9th.
The Mersin International Music Festival proved its quality by becoming a member of the EFA with more than hundred member festivals from 38 countries.
Every year the Mersin International Music festival hosts renown musicians from Turkey and the world in historic sites that was home to ancient civilizations.
This year the festival was held in historic sites of Mersin like Kanlidivene, St.Paul Church and Uzuncaburc and hosted:
"young mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey conducted by Chief Karel Mark Chichon, Portuguese National Ballet, famous violin virtuoso Ayla Erduran, grammy award winner jazz musician Tania Maria, harpist Xavier De Maistre and flute player Wolfgang Schulz."
-EUROPEAN FESTIVALS ASSOCIATION-
The European Festivals Association (EFA) was founded in Geneva in 1952 upon the joint initiative of the eminent conductor Igor Markewitch and the great philosopher Denis de Rougemont, with fifteen festivals making up the core (Aix-en-Provence, Bayreuth, Berlin, Besancon, Bordeaux, Florence, Holland, Lucerne, Munich, Perugia, Strasbourg, Venice, Vienna, Wiesbaden and Zurich). The founders were deeply engaged in the quality and the social responsibility of festivals.
The present membership consists of festivals from most of the European countries. Overseas festivals with similar structure and with similar concept of programmes are allowed to apply for membership, as well.
With the inclusion of the Mersin International Music Festival Turkey is represented at the association with 5 festivals.
Of these, Istanbul Music Festival was admitted in 1977, International Ankara Music Festival in 1994, Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival and Izmir Music Festival in 2003.