2. The Heritage that Unites Us: Traditional Music from Türkiye and Greece

Sofia Gioldasi

Conductor

Sofia Gioldasi (she/her) studied Choral Conducting at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, specializing in the intertwinement of choral singing, body movement, and stage action. She also has a degree in Musicology and Music Education with distinction from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

For the last 15 years, she has worked with both amateur and professional choirs with great success. She is the founder, conductor, and artistic leader of the Voci Contra Tempo Female Vocal Ensemble. She also conducts the Thessaloniki Friends of Music Society Youth & Children’s Choirs.

As conductor of the Nieuw Vocaal Amsterdam, she had the honour to perform at the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander, record for Deutsche Grammophon, perform at the greatest halls in the Netherlands (Concertgebouw, Muziekgebouw, Dutch National Opera and Ballet and others) and win Silver at the Cantemus International Choir Competition in Hungary. Gioldasi has performed in many other great European concert halls, such as the Berliner Philharmoniker and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

She is a much sought-after workshop & masterclass leader throughout Europe, collaborating frequently with ECA, IFCM, Feniarco, Accademia Corale Italiana, Choralspace, Greek National Opera, Greek Radio Choir, Thessaloniki Megaron Concert Hall, and others.

Çiğdem Aytepe

Conductor, composer, educator

Çiğdem Aytepe (she/her) is a choral conductor, composer, and educator who has played a formative role in shaping Turkish choral music. After degrees in composition and conducting from Hacettepe University, she refined her craft through prestigious international masterclasses. A faculty member at the H.U.Ankara State Conservatory since 2005, she has established numerous choirs within the institution.

Aytepe served as the conductor of the Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) Youth Choir from 2015 to 2025, and the chorus master of the Ankara State Opera and Ballet Chorus during the 2021/22 season. Currently, she directs the Hacettepe University Conservatory Choir, the Türkiye Youth Choir, the TPKD Association Choir, and the Saygun Philharmonic Choir, conducting the Turkish premieres of monumental works such as Bach’s Mass in B Minor, performances of large-scale symphonic repertoire, and premieres of numerous works by Turkish composers. She also works as a jury member and workshop leader.

Aytepe began composing in 2015. Writing primarily for amateur choirs, her focus on balancing technical accessibility with musical depth has earned recognition in national choral composition competitions. She also arranges Turkish folk songs. For Aytepe, composition serves as a meaningful space to sustain cultural memory and bridge communities.