Rengim Gökmen
Encyclopedia
Rengim Gokmen is a Turkish conductor
. He is the Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of Presidential Symphony Orchestra and General Director of Turkish State Opera and Ballet.
, Turkey
in 1955. He had his first music lessons from his family and was admitted to the piano section of the Ankara State Conservatory
in 1964. Subsequently he was admitted to the Composition section of the same conservatory and there he studied with İlhan Baran and Adnan Saygun. He graduated from these sections with honors in 1974.
In 1975 Rengim Gökmen was awarded with a scholarship by the Turkish Government to continue his studies on orchestra conducting in Rome
. He became the student of orchestra conducting class in Santa Cecilia Conservatory. In the meantime he made advanced studies on violin which he had started in Turkey. Subsequently he was admitted to the course for advanced studies in orchestra conducting in Santa Cecilia National Academy under the direction of Franco Ferrara
.
He received his diploma from Santa Cecilia Conservatory in 1978 and in the same year he qualified for ‘’Diploma di Merito’’ by Accademia Chigiana in Siena
.
In 1979, Rengim Gökmen completed his advanced studies at Academy of Santa Cecilia. His achievements qualified him to conduct a concert with Orchestra Nazionale dell’ Accademia di Santa Cecilia at Via della Conciliazione
.
He also attended summer courses on orchestra conducting in Austria
, England
and Netherlands
.
contest for young international conductors. After returning home, the concert that he conducted Beethoven's Ninth Symphony created a huge reflection on the audience and the critics. Then he conducted many orchestras both in Turkey and in Europe.
During 1984 - 1989 season, he served as the General Music Director of Ankara State Opera an Ballet. In 1989 he has been awarded ‘’Cavalleria in ordine di Merito’’ by the Italian Government. Between 1991-2006 he was the music director and the principal conductor of Izmir State Symphony Orchestra
. Meanwhile he also conducted many concerts and made recordings in Turkey and in abroad with Izmir State Symphony Orchestra.
He held the position as the General Director of Turkish State Opera and Ballet
between 1992–1995 and awarded by TÜTAV in Turkey due to his exemplar contributions to the presentation of Turkey abroad.
In 1999, Turkish Presidential Culture and Art Prize and in 2000, Gold Medal of ‘’Foyer des Artistes’’ in Rome, Italy are presented to Rengim Gökmen.
He is a member of the Advisory Committee of Ankara and Istanbul International Art Festivals. Beside his intensive program in Turkey, he continues to conduct orchestras in Europe regularly.
Gokmen also teaches conducting at Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. He is the Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of Presidential Symphony Orchestra and General Director of Turkish State Opera and Ballet.
Early life and education
Rengim Gökmen was born in IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
in 1955. He had his first music lessons from his family and was admitted to the piano section of the Ankara State Conservatory
Ankara State Conservatory
The Ankara State Conservatory, the first conservatory to be founded in the Republic of Turkey, was established in 1936 by a directive of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.- Notable attendees :* Paul Hindemith* Carl Ebert* Evelyn Baghtcheban* Samin Baghtcheban...
in 1964. Subsequently he was admitted to the Composition section of the same conservatory and there he studied with İlhan Baran and Adnan Saygun. He graduated from these sections with honors in 1974.
In 1975 Rengim Gökmen was awarded with a scholarship by the Turkish Government to continue his studies on orchestra conducting in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He became the student of orchestra conducting class in Santa Cecilia Conservatory. In the meantime he made advanced studies on violin which he had started in Turkey. Subsequently he was admitted to the course for advanced studies in orchestra conducting in Santa Cecilia National Academy under the direction of Franco Ferrara
Franco Ferrara
Franco Ferrara was an Italian conductor.After obtaining diplomas in piano, violin, organ and musical composition at the Conservatory of Bologna, Ferrara began his career as violin player in Bologna, in Rome and in Florence, with the Orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino...
.
He received his diploma from Santa Cecilia Conservatory in 1978 and in the same year he qualified for ‘’Diploma di Merito’’ by Accademia Chigiana in Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
.
In 1979, Rengim Gökmen completed his advanced studies at Academy of Santa Cecilia. His achievements qualified him to conduct a concert with Orchestra Nazionale dell’ Accademia di Santa Cecilia at Via della Conciliazione
Via della Conciliazione
Via della Conciliazione is a street in the Rione of Borgo within Rome, Italy. Roughly 500 m in length, it connects Saint Peter's Square to the Castel Sant'Angelo on the western bank of the Tiber River. The road was constructed between 1936 and 1950, and it is the primary access route to the...
.
He also attended summer courses on orchestra conducting in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Career
In July 1980, he won Gino MarinuzziGino Marinuzzi
Gino Marinuzzi was an Italian conductor and composer, particularly associated with Wagner and the Italian repertory....
contest for young international conductors. After returning home, the concert that he conducted Beethoven's Ninth Symphony created a huge reflection on the audience and the critics. Then he conducted many orchestras both in Turkey and in Europe.
During 1984 - 1989 season, he served as the General Music Director of Ankara State Opera an Ballet. In 1989 he has been awarded ‘’Cavalleria in ordine di Merito’’ by the Italian Government. Between 1991-2006 he was the music director and the principal conductor of Izmir State Symphony Orchestra
Izmir State Symphony Orchestra
İzmir State Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra located in İzmir.Its principal conductor is Rengim Gökmen....
. Meanwhile he also conducted many concerts and made recordings in Turkey and in abroad with Izmir State Symphony Orchestra.
He held the position as the General Director of Turkish State Opera and Ballet
Turkish State Opera and Ballet
The State Opera and Ballet is the national directorate of opera and ballet companies of Turkey, with venues in Ankara, İstanbul, İzmir, Mersin, Antalya and Samsun...
between 1992–1995 and awarded by TÜTAV in Turkey due to his exemplar contributions to the presentation of Turkey abroad.
In 1999, Turkish Presidential Culture and Art Prize and in 2000, Gold Medal of ‘’Foyer des Artistes’’ in Rome, Italy are presented to Rengim Gökmen.
He is a member of the Advisory Committee of Ankara and Istanbul International Art Festivals. Beside his intensive program in Turkey, he continues to conduct orchestras in Europe regularly.
Gokmen also teaches conducting at Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory.