Selim Giray
Encyclopedia
Selim Giray, Turkish
born American
Violinist, Researcher, and Conductor.
. Between the years of 2000 and 2003, Dr. Giray taught at Interlochen Arts Camp. As a violinist, Giray has performed extensively in four continents, and has appeared frequently on the radio and television, including the NPR
. He has performed as soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Currently, he serves as Concertmaster and Assistant Conductor of The Ohio Light Opera
. In 2010, Selim Giray has been appointed Field Editor for the Edwin Mellen Press
.
Also an active researcher, most recently, he has recorded for the ERM Media (distributed by Naxos) with pianist Dr. June Chun-Young (release date: February 2010). In addition, he edited Adnan Saygun's violin concerto for the Peermusic Classical Europe. In 2003 Edwin Mellen Press
published Dr. Giray's treatise titled A Biography of the Turkish Composer Ahmed Adnan Saygun and a Discussion of his Violin Works. The Ministry of Culture of Turkey published the same work in Turkish, with a preface by then Minister of Culture, Istemihan Talay.
Most recently, Dr. Giray performed Dvořák's violin concerto with the Southeast Kansas Symphony Orchestra, and "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso" by Camille Saint-Saëns
, and "Poème" by Ernest Chausson
with Hays Symphony Orchestra. During the summer of 2008, he visited Asunción, Paraguay for master classes and performed the violin concerto of Emre Araci
with the Camerata Orchestra. In 2004, Dr. Giray received the Rotary International
’s prestigious Ambassadorial Scholarships
grant, which sponsored him to teach throughout the summers of 2006–07 at Istanbul Technical University [Istanbul International Spectral Music Conference] in Istanbul, Turkey. In the summer of 2006, as part of his teaching, Dr. Giray was the only professor to have the honor of giving master classes with the foremost Turkish violinist, Prof. Cihat Aşkın at the CAKA project [Young Friends of Cihat Aşkın]. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Giray performed at the 34th International Istanbul Music Festival as a member of Istanbul Chamber Orchestra. Also, he played as Acting Concertmaster of Istanbul Chamber Orchestra in Islamabad, Pakistan, where he performed in front of an elite audience of foreign dignitaries. During that trip, Dr. Giray gave lectures and master classes at Istanbul Technical University
, Bilkent University
, and Yıldız University in Turkey, and Edison Academy in Germany.
As a doctoral candidate at the Florida State University
, Selim Giray studied with Eliot Chapo, former Concertmaster of such orchestras as the New York Philharmonic
and the Dallas Symphony. Prior to that, in 1992 he was awarded a joint fellowship from the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra and East Carolina University
, where he studied with Fritz Gearhart. A native of Istanbul, Selim Giray graduated from Istanbul State Conservatory and Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory, where he studied with Saim Akçıl.
During his tenure at Pittsburg State University
, Giray has recruited international students, including Paraguay, Romania, China, South Korea, and Turkey. Within the years his students won numerous competitions, including various Concerto-Aria and Chamber Music Competitions, and the coveted American String Teachers Association
Solo Competition—Winner of 2006 Kansas Chapter. Dr. Giray’s students have been accepted in graduate programs at Yale University
, Rice University
, the University of Oklahoma
, and the Florida State University
with assistantships. Some are members of orchestras including the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Kansas City Symphony
, the Houston Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, and the Chicago Symphony.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Violinist, Researcher, and Conductor.
Biography
Turkish born violinist Selim Giray serves as Associate Professor of Violin, Viola and Artistic Director and Conductor of PSU Chamber Orchestra and Southeast Kansas Symphony Orchestra at Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University, also called Pitt State or PSU, is a public university with approximately 7,100 students located in Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. A large percentage of the student population consists of residents within the Pittsburg region; the gender proportion is relatively equal...
. Between the years of 2000 and 2003, Dr. Giray taught at Interlochen Arts Camp. As a violinist, Giray has performed extensively in four continents, and has appeared frequently on the radio and television, including the NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
. He has performed as soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Currently, he serves as Concertmaster and Assistant Conductor of The Ohio Light Opera
Ohio Light Opera
The Ohio Light Opera is a professional opera company based in Wooster, Ohio that performs the light opera repertory, including Gilbert and Sullivan, American, British and continental operettas, and other musical theatre works, especially of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
. In 2010, Selim Giray has been appointed Field Editor for the Edwin Mellen Press
Edwin Mellen Press
The Edwin Mellen Press, based in Lewiston, New York is a niche publisher of scholarly material and advanced research in the humanities and social sciences. They publish a variety of tomes including monographs, bibliographies, concordances, dictionaries, conference proceedings, dissertations, and...
.
Also an active researcher, most recently, he has recorded for the ERM Media (distributed by Naxos) with pianist Dr. June Chun-Young (release date: February 2010). In addition, he edited Adnan Saygun's violin concerto for the Peermusic Classical Europe. In 2003 Edwin Mellen Press
Edwin Mellen Press
The Edwin Mellen Press, based in Lewiston, New York is a niche publisher of scholarly material and advanced research in the humanities and social sciences. They publish a variety of tomes including monographs, bibliographies, concordances, dictionaries, conference proceedings, dissertations, and...
published Dr. Giray's treatise titled A Biography of the Turkish Composer Ahmed Adnan Saygun and a Discussion of his Violin Works. The Ministry of Culture of Turkey published the same work in Turkish, with a preface by then Minister of Culture, Istemihan Talay.
Most recently, Dr. Giray performed Dvořák's violin concerto with the Southeast Kansas Symphony Orchestra, and "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso" by Camille Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He is known especially for The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and his Symphony...
, and "Poème" by Ernest Chausson
Ernest Chausson
Amédée-Ernest Chausson was a French romantic composer who died just as his career was beginning to flourish.-Life:Ernest Chausson was born in Paris into a prosperous bourgeois family...
with Hays Symphony Orchestra. During the summer of 2008, he visited Asunción, Paraguay for master classes and performed the violin concerto of Emre Araci
Emre Araci
Emre Aracı, Turkish music historian, conductor, composer.- Life :Dr Emre Aracı is a Turkish music historian, composer and conductor who has been living in the United Kingdom since 1987...
with the Camerata Orchestra. In 2004, Dr. Giray received the Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
’s prestigious Ambassadorial Scholarships
Ambassadorial Scholarships
Ambassadorial Scholarships is the oldest program of the Rotary Foundation and probably the best-known. Since 1947, nearly 38,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Today it is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships program. Nearly...
grant, which sponsored him to teach throughout the summers of 2006–07 at Istanbul Technical University [Istanbul International Spectral Music Conference] in Istanbul, Turkey. In the summer of 2006, as part of his teaching, Dr. Giray was the only professor to have the honor of giving master classes with the foremost Turkish violinist, Prof. Cihat Aşkın at the CAKA project [Young Friends of Cihat Aşkın]. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Giray performed at the 34th International Istanbul Music Festival as a member of Istanbul Chamber Orchestra. Also, he played as Acting Concertmaster of Istanbul Chamber Orchestra in Islamabad, Pakistan, where he performed in front of an elite audience of foreign dignitaries. During that trip, Dr. Giray gave lectures and master classes at Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul Technical University is an international technical university located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the world's third oldest technical university dedicated to engineering sciences as well as social sciences recently, and is one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey...
, Bilkent University
Bilkent University
İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University, commonly referred to as Bilkent University or Bilkent, is the first private, nonprofit university in Turkey with the fundamental aim of creating a center of excellence in higher education and research...
, and Yıldız University in Turkey, and Edison Academy in Germany.
As a doctoral candidate at the Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, Selim Giray studied with Eliot Chapo, former Concertmaster of such orchestras as the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
and the Dallas Symphony. Prior to that, in 1992 he was awarded a joint fellowship from the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra and East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
, where he studied with Fritz Gearhart. A native of Istanbul, Selim Giray graduated from Istanbul State Conservatory and Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory, where he studied with Saim Akçıl.
During his tenure at Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University, also called Pitt State or PSU, is a public university with approximately 7,100 students located in Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. A large percentage of the student population consists of residents within the Pittsburg region; the gender proportion is relatively equal...
, Giray has recruited international students, including Paraguay, Romania, China, South Korea, and Turkey. Within the years his students won numerous competitions, including various Concerto-Aria and Chamber Music Competitions, and the coveted American String Teachers Association
American String Teachers Association
The American String Teacher's Association is a professional organization based in the United States for music teachers. It is the largest such national organization in the US for string teachers. It promotes learning to play string instruments in the next generation of American students, and...
Solo Competition—Winner of 2006 Kansas Chapter. Dr. Giray’s students have been accepted in graduate programs at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
, the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, and the Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
with assistantships. Some are members of orchestras including the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Kansas City Symphony
Kansas City Symphony
The Kansas City Symphony is a United States symphony orchestra based in Kansas City, Missouri. The current music director is conductor Michael Stern. The current home of the Symphony is the Lyric Theatre, located in Downtown Kansas City on 11th Street between Wyandotte and Central Streets...
, the Houston Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, and the Chicago Symphony.
CD Recordings
- Turkish Music for Violin and Piano. Selim Giray, violin; June Chun-Young, piano (Norfolk: ERMMedia, 2010 [ERM7101]).
- Patience. Ohio Light OperaOhio Light OperaThe Ohio Light Opera is a professional opera company based in Wooster, Ohio that performs the light opera repertory, including Gilbert and Sullivan, American, British and continental operettas, and other musical theatre works, especially of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
Selim Giray, Concertmaster (Albany: Albany Records, 2010 [TROY1241-42]). - El Capitan. Ohio Light OperaOhio Light OperaThe Ohio Light Opera is a professional opera company based in Wooster, Ohio that performs the light opera repertory, including Gilbert and Sullivan, American, British and continental operettas, and other musical theatre works, especially of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
Selim Giray, Concertmaster (Albany: Albany Records, 2010 [TROY1236-37]). - Mlle. Modiste. Ohio Light OperaOhio Light OperaThe Ohio Light Opera is a professional opera company based in Wooster, Ohio that performs the light opera repertory, including Gilbert and Sullivan, American, British and continental operettas, and other musical theatre works, especially of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
Selim Giray, Concertmaster (Albany: Albany Records, 2009 [TROY1146-47]). - Ruddigore. Ohio Light OperaOhio Light OperaThe Ohio Light Opera is a professional opera company based in Wooster, Ohio that performs the light opera repertory, including Gilbert and Sullivan, American, British and continental operettas, and other musical theatre works, especially of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
Selim Giray, Concertmaster (Albany: Albany Records, 2009 [TROY1164-65]).
Books, Editions and Articles
- Interview of Eliot Chapo in The Strad 121 (July 2010): 69.
- A. Adnan Saygun Violin Concerto Op. 44. (Hamburg: Peermusic Classical, 2008). Piano reduction by John C. Ross.
- A Biography of the Turkish Composer Ahmed Adnan Saygun and a Discussion of his Violin Works. (Lewiston, N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 2003). With a preface by Evin İlyasoğlu.
- Ahmed Adnan Saygun’un Keman Yapıtları: Bir Kemancıya Rehber [Ahmed Adnan Saygun’s Violin Works: a Violinist's Handbook], (Ankara: Ministry of Culture Publications, 2002). With a preface by the Minister of Culture of Turkey, M. İstemihan Talay.
External links
- An Article on The Upcoming Violin and Piano Recital at the Carnegie Hall
- The Upcoming Violin and Piano Recital at the Carnegie Hall
- NBC News Item
- Morning Sun Newspaper Critique
- Fanfare's Review
- Southeast Kansas Symphony Success
- Student Success
- Home Page
- WorldCat: Worldwide Library Holdings
- Axe Library
- Violinist
- Mellen
- Turkish Ministry of Culture
- Hays Daily News Review
- ABC Color