TÜRKSOY | International Organization of Turkic Culture

It was founded by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Turkmenistan for cultural cooperation in 1993. Federal subjects of Russian Federation; Altai Republic, Republic of Bashkortostan, Republic of Khakassia, Tuva Republic, Republic of Tatarstan, Sakha (Yakutia) Republic, Romania’s Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have all joined TÜRKSOY as observer members. It provides cooperation in culture and art and aims to support national awakening, state structures and democratization processes of member Turkic states. TÜRKSOY is an international organization that does not interfere with domestic and foreign policy of its members. Its host country is Turkey and administrative center is in Ankara.                

İrfan GÜRDAL | Art Director of Turkic World Music Society

He was born in 1966. He graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. He passed the Ministry of Culture State Turkish Folk Music Choir Exam and began to work as a saz instrument player. In 1991; he established Silk Road Turkic Music Society while researching about local music of Turkic speaking regions around the world. He conducted research about the traditional music and instruments of Turkic people living outside of Anatolia. He compiled more than 200 songs. He had discovered new techniques in playing saz instrument. He exhibited Turkic Folk Instruments in international art and handcrafts expo and gave concerts in order to promote these instruments. In 1999, he was appointed as art director of Ministry of Culture Turkic World Music Society. He had directed and organized various concerts with this society in both Turkey and abroad. He compiled his Master’s degree in ethnomusicology at Hacettepe University Faculty of Conservatory. In 2004; he released an album called “The song of horse” in which he had collected songs about horses in Turkic music.