Chicago Welcomes Umut Deniz Topcuoglu...Young and highly accomplished Turkish composer, performer, and educator brings his inspiring music to Chicago once again! Midwest Young Artists Conservatory orchestra and chamber members will join Umut Deniz Topcuoglu at a special concert to perform his new compositions and adaptations.

Umut Deniz Topcuoglu, from Istanbul, is a music composition graduate of the State Academy of Music, Theatre & Fine Arts, in Chisinau, Moldova. Deniz is specialized in Turkish ethnic music and is a gifted performer on the Turkish Mouth Harp, Turkish Ney (reed flute), Bendir (skin drum), and the art of throat singing. Deniz has presented Master Classes in Chicago at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Stage 773, and the Fine Arts Building. His compositions have been commissioned for international theater productions. His major work, “Symphonic Poem Altay”, joins classical and ethnic themes through its use of Turkish instruments. At the Newberry Library concert, Deniz will demonstrate his original notation system, called “Orhon Notation”, for the Turkish Mouth Harp, the ancient instrument known in Central Asia as “Khomus”. The "Orkhon Tamga Alphabet” (Turkish Runic Alphabet) symbolizes the fundamental sounds produced by the Mouth Harp, and the unity of ethno-musicology, Turkology, and philology - says Deniz.

Midwest Young Artists Conservatory is a premiere youth music ensemble program, serving over 900 students of all ages and ability levels through orchestral, jazz, and choral ensembles, early childhood classes, and summer camps.

Newberry Library, Ruggles Concert Hall 60 West Walton Street, Chicago IL 60610 Free to Members and Guests | Seats are limited Registration is required by August 27 at www.iwachicago.org (Go to Upcoming/All Events, scroll to "August 29th Spotlight")