ITU contributes to local arts, with annual public performances nationally and internationally. The public performances include university choirs, theatre groups, orchestras and more. ITU faculties and students clubs aims to record and/or preserve intangible cultural heritage including local folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge. These activities are organised by ITU Turkish Music State Conservatory, İTÜ Dr. Erol Üçer Centre for Advanced Studies in Music and student clubs.
The vision of İTÜ Turkish Music State Conservatory is to become the leading conservatory in the domain of music and performance arts fostering scientific endeavor, artistic expertise and creativity. To this end, it aims to become a leader nationwide and internationally with modern educational dynamics by contributing to academic corpus, preparing scientific and artistic events.
The Turkish Music State Conservatory offers 7 undergraduate programs: Music Theory, Musicology, Music Technology, Turkish Folk Dances, Composition, Instrument Performance and Voice Performance. All these programs are designed to prioritize education and preservation of local music and folklore. In addition, ITU TMSC leads education at secondary and high school levels with academic opportunities.
İTÜ Dr. Erol Üçer Centre for Advanced Studies in Music
İTÜ MIAM was established in 1999 as a department of İTÜ Social Sciences Institute. Dr. Erol Üçer, who is a graduate of ITU, undertook the foundership and acted as the main sponsor. The original idea was conceived by Gülsün Sağlamer, the former rector of ITU. Sağlamer suggested to Prof. Dr. Kamran İnce and Prof. Dr. Cihat Aşkın the idea to establish a graduate school that gives education in English, and where foreign scholars would be invited to teach and do research. Kamran İnce who thought positively about the idea pointed out to Gülsün Sağlamer that methods developed in the 20th century for graduate-level music studies were only applied in the American educational system that practiced creative approaches to music rather than rote-learning; and that Türkiye needed a comprehensive music library. Furthermore, he emphasized that since İTÜ is a technical university, it would be very important to implement the technological aspect by giving electronic, electro-acoustic music, sonic arts, sound engineering and design education as well. In addition to these areas, the idea of giving music business and management education was also considered. Eventually, when Dr. Erol Üçer specified that he would completely back up the project that took shape from these ideas, MIAM was founded as Türkiye’s first music master’s program (1999) and music doctoral program (2002) that gives education in %100 English language.
Preservation of Cultural Heritage in ITU
ITU TMDK Turkish Music Archive
In a project prepared in collaboration with Istanbul Technical University Rectorate, Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA), and Turkish State Conservatory of Music, over 45,000 valuable materials preserved at the ITU TMDK Prof. Ercümend Berker & Prof. Ş. Şehvar Beşiroğlu Library, Archive, and Documentation Center have been cataloged and digitized.
To access the ITU TMDK Turkish Music Archive, please use the following link: https://tmdkarsiv.itu.edu.tr
The sources, consisting mainly of handwritten and printed scores, also include rare works, photographs, concert programs, newspaper clippings, archival documents, posters, cassettes, records, slides, and instruments, all of which have been cataloged in detail and digitized. The project involved working on a total of 32 separate collections, 23 of which were personal archives.
The Turkish music records and cassettes in the archive have also been photographed and detailed catalog records have been prepared for researchers to access.
For the first time in Türkiye, musical instruments found in a library have been evaluated as a bibliographic resource, photographed artistically, and cataloged in detail. Rather than using the instruments for exhibition purposes, their informational value was considered, and bibliographic data was created as with other information sources. The musical instruments, which are an important part of the artists' personal collections, are at least as important as other traditional information sources.
At our Center, which is a “Turkish Music Memory Institution,” work has been carried out on the project to make museum, archive, and library materials available for research within an integrated system.
The preservation project endeavored to bring together rare sources that provide information from different perspectives on the works and lives of figures who have left significant marks on Turkish music history. The Rare Sources Collection includes Ottoman Turkish handwritten scores, composers' own handwritten works and notebooks, and extremely rare printed scores and photographs from the late Ottoman period and the early Republican era.
Preparing Turkish Music Works as Braille Sheet Music for Visually Impaired Users: Another objective the project is to increase access to information for visually impaired individuals or those with limited access to Western publications. We have converted 500 pieces selected from our educational curriculum into Braille digital notation for visually impaired members of the Turkish music community. Braille notation can be read on digital screens.
Preservation of Language
ITU Mustafa İnan Library Wiki Marathon
ITU Library is enriching Wikipedia articles on the terms #library, #librarian, and #librarianship.
The wiki marathon, organized by ITU Mustafa İnan Library, included training on how Wikipedia works, its basic rules, and creating and editing articles, followed by practical application. During the practical session, which took place in the computer lab, participants created and edited Wikipedia articles, thereby increasing the visibility of professional terminology, our libraries, and our professional associations, as well as providing internet users with accurate and up-to-date information.
ITU invited colleagues and dear students, who are the librarians of the future, to join this meaningful event during the 60th Library Week, which was celebrated this year with the theme of sustainability and advocacy.
Lingify
This innovative startup, founded by twin siblings at ITU Arı Teknokent, develops science-based and AI-powered digital health solutions to improve the quality of life for individuals with speech and language disorders.
The siblings, one a Speech and Language Therapist and the other a Psychology and Nutrition and Dietetics graduate, combine their expertise from different disciplines to transform science into a solution that improves people's quality of life.
Natural Language Processing Workshop in Collaboration with ITU and TDK
Our ITU Natural Language Processing Group academics discussed potential technological developments tailored to TDK's needs with their presentations in this field at the Natural Language Processing Workshop held in Ankara on April 25-26, 2024.
An important workshop aimed at creating joint opportunities, establishing cooperation, and building networks in language technology projects between Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and the Turkish Language Association (TDK) brought scientists together in Ankara.
The Natural Language Processing Workshop hosted many productive scientific discussions in the field of natural language processing on April 25-26 in Ankara. At the workshop, which included stakeholders from ITU, TDK, MEB, and TÜBİTAK, our faculty members presented their papers in sessions titled Idioms Dictionary, Contemporary Turkish Dictionary, Teaching Turkish to Foreigners, and Sign Languages Dictionary.
Click here for details.
Open Science Practices
Location: ITU Mustafa Inan Library, Conference Hall
Date: 20 February 2024
ITU Mustafa İnan Library held a free of charge training series to promote open science practices that support transparency and collaboration in the production of scientific knowledge and to raise awareness about open science elements.
In the first session of the face-to-face series, "Open Access Publishing" was discussed. The content was carried out in an interactive environment within the framework of the questions given below, under the guidance of the trainer and with the support of the participants.
- Where is open access in open science?
- What is open access publishing, how to publish open access, what is the benefit?
- How can you find a reliable open access publisher to publish your research?
- How can the library support you in the process of open access publishing?
The registration form must be filled in for training planning.
Turkish Teaching Application And Research Center - ITU TÖMER
ITU TÖMER aims to enable our international students and academic/administrative staff to learn Turkish in order to facilitate their daily life and communication on and off campus and give them the opportunity to follow and contribute to scientific studies in Turkish.
The scope of engagement of ITU TÖMER is not limited to our institution but - open to the public. Turkish language courses are organized for anyone who wants to learn Turkish, including employees of consulates and international companies located around our campuses. Thus, it aims to transfer Turkish culture to wider circles and - increase intercultural interaction.
İTÜ TÖMER provides a research and practice area for our academic and administrative staff, working in the fields of teaching Turkish and other languages as a foreign language - as well as enabling them to produce scientific outputs in these fields and to organize various national/international scientific meetings.
ITU TOMER Talks: The Logic of Turkish Language
“In the first session of ITU TOMER talks, ITU Computer Faculty Retired Faculty member dear Prof. Eşref Adalı was our guest on 29th of April, 2024. The seminar was held at ITU MED-B and attended by both face-to-face and online participants. In his presentation titled "The Logic of Turkish", our esteemed professor said that the correctness of the rules of Turkish aroused admiration in linguistics experts, that even Turkish could have been designed by a scientific committee, that its structure was like mathematics, and that, thanks to its ability to derive new words, its way of forming sentences, and its simplicity of expression. He emphasized how appropriate and convenient the language is to be used in computer science and natural language processing.”
Annual Events
49th Anniversary of ITU TMDK
On March 3, 2024, ITU TMDK's 49th Anniversary Gathering presented distinguished examples of Turkish music to music lovers at the Mustafa Kemal Amphitheater, ITU Maçka Campus.
The “49th Anniversary Gathering of Istanbul Technical University State Conservatory of Turkish Music” brought music lovers together at the Mustafa Kemal Amphitheater on the ITU Maçka Campus on March 3, 2024. The program began with a video presentation featuring images highlighting the Conservatory's history spanning nearly half a century, followed by performances of leading works from Turkish music's rich cultural heritage.
Annual Academic Year opening Concert by İTÜ Turkish Music State Conservatory
ITU Dr. Erol Üçer Music Advanced Research Center (ITU MİAM) Celebrated Its 25th Anniversary
Founded in 1999, ITU MİAM celebrated its 25th anniversary with a series of events held at the Maçka Armory, located within the ITU Maçka Campus, which hosts MİAM, between December 9-11, 2024.
The ITU MİAM 25th anniversary celebrations began on the evening of Monday, December 9, 2024, with a gala concert by the MİAM Modern Music Ensemble, conducted by Prof. Dr. Kamran İnce, one of the center's founders. The concert featured the piece “Ve” (And), composed by İnce especially for the occasion and performed for the first time. ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal also attended the concert. Click here for details.
Events in 2024
100th Anniversary Concert in Sarajevo
“100th Anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye Concert,” where notable examples of Turkish music were performed by ITU TMSC Classical Turkish Music Ensemble, gave unforgettable moments to music lovers in Sarajevo on January 26, 2024.
“100th Anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye Concert,” organized with the cooperation of Istanbul Technical University, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Yunus Emre Institute, and the International University of Sarajevo, brought together music lovers in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, on January 26, 2024. At the opening of the concert given by the ITU TMSC Classical Turkish Music Ensemble, our Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Koyuncu emphasized the pride of celebrating the 250th anniversary of ITU in the 100th anniversary of our Republic and addressed the audience as follows: “In this beautiful evening that will remain in our memories, we will witness a historical section of our musical tradition. Once again, I would like to sincerely thank all our friends who worked hard for this beautiful concert, in which they will give us a unique musical feast.” Click here for details.
Calligraphy Exhibition at ITU
The exhibition “40 Years on the Blessed Path: Calligraphy Exhibition,” featuring the works of calligrapher Erol Dönmez, opened with a ceremony on April 17, 2024. The exhibition will continue to welcome art lovers until May 1, 2024.
Hosted by Istanbul Technical University (ITU), the “40 Years on the Blessed Path: Calligraphy Exhibition” opened its doors to visitors on April 17, 2024, with a ceremony held at the ITU Rectorate, 250th Anniversary Museum. Click here for details.
Istanbul Technical University Alumni Turkish Music Ensemble's Unforgettable Concert in Bilecik
The concert organized by the Istanbul Technical University Alumni Turkish Music Ensemble on November 15, 2024, in Bilecik under the patronage of Governor Şefik Aygöl attracted significant attention.
Istanbul Technical University continues to be a pioneer in the field of culture and arts in our country with its students and alumni. Celebrating its 51st anniversary, the Istanbul Technical University Alumni Turkish Music Ensemble (ITU MTMT) held a concert on November 15, 2024, at the Bilecik Municipality Sheikh Edebali Culture and Congress Center, presented by Korist Göksel Ekmekçi and conducted by Murat Sıvacı. The concert, which was attended by high-level officials from Bilecik, also drew significant interest from the business world, academia, civil society, the press, and people of all ages from Bilecik. Click here for details.
4th Istanbul Digital Art Festival
ITU was the center of attention at the 4th Istanbul Digital Art Festival held at AKM between May 2-5, with many events such as workshops, panels, and the “ITU from Past to Present” exhibition.
Istanbul Technical University (ITU) participated in the 4th Istanbul Digital Art Festival, held at the Atatürk Cultural Center from May 2-5, with numerous events organized by its students and faculty members. Technological waste, including computers and computer equipment, cables, headphones, chips, cell phones, and small household appliances, was collected between April 22-26 at the MED-A in the Ayazağa Campus and Ortabahçe in the Taşkışla Campus for the installations that our students would exhibit at the festival.
As the sponsor of the festival's “Youth Area,” our university provided participants with inspiring experiences through workshops where waste was transformed into art, panels, and the “From Past to Present ITU” exhibition. Click here for details.
“Erol Sayan's 70th Year in Music” Concert
A concert was held at the Pera Museum Auditorium in honor of Erol Sayan's 70th year in music. Sayan, who has trained many students at ITU TMDK, is considered one of the most important figures in Turkish classical music.
iKKi Duo
iKKi Duo will performed a concert with cello, piano, objects and electronics at the Usmanbaş Hall on August 16th at MIAM, where iKKi Duo was born! Both musicians' current interests intersect in the free improvisation-sound-movement-play extension. These intersections reconsider the concept of "sonic bonding" (McNeill, 1995; Turino, 2008) from an experimental and playful perspective.
iKKi Duo members Zeynep Ayşe Hatipoğlu and Fulya Uçanok are performers, improvisers, composers and researchers. Both from a conservatory background, they were drawn to explore contemporary, experimental sound worlds. The duo crossed paths at Onebeat Istanbul residency program in 2016 and continued their work during their MIAM doctoral studies. Since 2019, the duo has been working with Klank.ist Ensemble (Aslı Kobaner, Eda Er, Fulya Uçanok, Zeynep Ayşe Hatipoğlu, Merve Salgar). iKKi Duo's album "Nine Stages of Not Arriving" (2023) was released on ADA Music Classic. Their second album "Wandering Rocks" (2023) was released by Sphyre Records.
In this concert, iKKi Duo performed a free improvisational performance based on their intersecting interests.
SONIFIED
SONIFIED is a two-day international symposium exploring sonic practices from an interdisciplinary perspective. The symposium took place on March 21-22, 2024 at Arter Museum and featured public performances, workshops, and lectures organized by Istanbul Technical University's Centre for Advanced Studies in Music (MIAM). The program also includes two specially curated concerts of immersive music in Arter’s black box theatre Karbon. SONIFIED coincides with the 25th anniversary of MIAM and offers an opportunity to reflect on the last quarter century while listening ahead to the next. We invite all those interested in sonic arts, sound design, music composition, and sound studies to join us for this special occasion.
YOGA LESSONS
Sira Night at ITU TÖMER
As ITU TÖMER, we organized a delightful "Sira Gecesi" on the evening of Thursday, November 28, to introduce Turkish culture and provide our students with an unforgettable experience. Dervisa Zejnilagio, one of our B1 level students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, shared her impressions with us. From making çiğ köfte to dancing halay and discovering the traditional dances of different countries, this eventful evening became a wonderful example of cultural interaction and friendship. Here are the details of that special night, in Dervisa’s own words…
Student Clubs
ITU Musical Club
Founded in 2010 under the Istanbul Technical University Culture and Arts Association Theater Clubs, the ITU Musical Ensemble brings together talents in the fields of music, dance, and theater, aiming to deliver unforgettable experiences in every performance. Our ensemble continues to contribute to ITU's cultural heritage through interdisciplinary collaboration, passion, and a deep commitment to the arts.
The community staged the play “Heathers” this year.
ITU Turkish Music Club
The club began its activities in April 2010 as a student club affiliated with the ITU Culture and Arts Association. The club held a concert in the 2024 spring semester.
ITU Western Music Club
The ITU Western Music Club is the name adopted by the ITU Classical Music Club, founded in 2004, following a revision of its content and activities during the 2010-2011 academic year. As a culture and arts club based at the ITU Ayazağa Campus, it aims to introduce university students, primarily ITU students, to Western music culture through its activities. Pop, rock, indie, classical music, rap, and every conceivable genre of Western music, as well as songs in any language performed in these genres, are within the club's scope of interest. Through club activities such as Popular and Concept Music Nights and Classical Music Recitals, the club aims to help university students gain new horizons and develop the ability to view life and their careers from a different perspective.
The activities carried out by the club in 2024 includes:
Hello Autumn Concert
Acoustic Night
Classical Music Night
End-of-Year Concert
ITU TİMİS Actors Theater Club
Timis is a theater club founded in February 2005 within the ITO Culture and Arts Association. The club offers ITU students the opportunity to share culture and art and develop their skills in theater. For years, it has not only staged various works, but also provided the opportunity to go to theater performances and comment on and evaluate the plays.
ITU Stage Theater Club
ITU Stage is a university theater group that has been active since 1997. At ITU Stage, where new members join at the beginning of each academic year, there is a search for continuity and permanence alongside change and dynamism. The productions that emerge from theoretical and practical research are generally focused on acting. This work allows actors to create a space that reveals the power of their mental and physical actions. Thus, this power of action, which goes beyond the “stage,” suggests the possibility of setting an agenda within the university. In addition to its work during the academic year, ITU Stage conducts summer workshops and participates in camps that bring together different theater groups. These activities outside the school year, especially the camps, are intense periods where philosophical thought is put into practice. These periods serve as a guide for the work carried out during the year. ITU Stage, which values the accumulation of all kinds of experiences, offers an alternative rhythm to the flow of university life and everyday life by sharing what it has accumulated and reproducing it.
The ITU Stage prepared and performed Hristo Boytchev's play Yeraltı (Underground) during the 2023-24 academic year.
The ITU Stage prepared and performed the play Titanic Orchestra, written by Hristo Boytchev, during the 2024-25 academic year.
ITU Classical Turkish Arts
The club was founded with the aim of introducing, promoting, and passing on traditional Turkish arts to future generations. Through the tours, talks, workshops, conferences, and panels we organize, we share the history, techniques, and cultural context of these arts with participants. In addition to traditional arts such as miniature painting, calligraphy, illumination, ceramics, woodcarving, and wood inlay, we also address Turkish architecture and restoration processes, providing opportunities for expert artists, historians, architects, and writers to share their knowledge and experience. In this way, we preserve our cultural heritage while providing participants with both theoretical and practical experience.
The club activities included the following in 2024:
With expert instructors in their fields, they held workshops on stone printing, mosaics, and ebru.
Accompanied by Associate Professor Aras Neftçi, they explored the history and architecture of Süleymaniye.
ITU Folk Sciences and Arts Club
The Club aims to reach students who love art and value artists, aims to prove to everyone that art can also be done at a technical university. Therefore, it wants to reach the artist within everyone and help them discover themselves through the basic drawing, guitar, and painting with colors courses it offers each semester. The club carried out the following events in 2024