This is important news for Türkiye. Erdem, who took office with the votes of federations and delegates from approximately 70 countries, became the first Turkish musician to be elected as the president of the federation established in 1982. In a field such as choral music, which requires a great deal of effort, patience and continuity, this choice should not be seen only as an individual success. It should also be read as the world equivalent of the choir culture that has been growing in Turkey for years.
The International Federation of Choral Music is considered the umbrella organization of choral music in the world. IFCM, which brings together national federations, choirs, conductors, composers and educators in the same structure, is the official representative of choral music in the International Music Council, which was established upon the call of UNESCO.
The working area of the Federation is quite wide. The World Choral Music Symposium, which is held every three years, World Choir Day, which brings together millions in different parts of the world every December, the World Youth Choir, awarded the title of Peace Artist by UNESCO, and intercontinental education projects are among the most well-known titles of this structure.
Burak Onur Erdem is not a stranger to this international structure. He has been on the IFCM board of directors since 2018. He had been the vice president of the federation since 2023. So this presidency is not a task that comes suddenly; The result of years of effort, relationships and trust.
There are three topics that Erdem highlights for the new period: Representation, dialogue and access.
These three words are actually close to the spirit of choral music. Isn't what we call choir the transformation of different voices into a whole by hearing each other, rather than a single voice coming to the fore? Breathing together, knowing how to be silent at the same time, making room for someone else's voice when necessary...
Maybe this is what we need most in today's world.
Erdem was the festival director of the World Choral Music Symposium held in Istanbul in 2023. The symposium, which brought together 2,500 musicians from more than 60 countries in Istanbul, brought one of the world's most important choir events to Turkey for the first time. That meeting was not just an organizational success; It also showed how strong a host Turkey can be in this field.
Now that experience is turning into a broader responsibility.
With Burak Onur Erdem's presidency, Turkish choirs, composers and conductors are expected to be more visible internationally. Turkey stands out not only as a country that participates in choral music events, but also as a center that takes part in decision-making processes, gives direction and can host new meetings.
Born in Istanbul in 1986, Erdem graduated from Istanbul German High School and then Boğaziçi University, Department of Political Science and International Relations, with the Rector's Award. He completed his master's and doctorate degrees at Istanbul Technical University Music Advanced Research Center. Prof at Graz University of Arts. He did post-doctoral studies on choral conducting with Johannes Prinz.
He has been the conductor of the State Polyphonic Choir since 2017. During this period, the choir performed many world premieres, trained hundreds of choir conductors, and carried out social projects that brought music together with different age groups. The admission of the State Polyphonic Choir to the European Association of Professional Choirs was one of the important steps of this period.
Erdem is also the founder of Rezonans Choir and Choral Culture Association. He launched the choral conducting master's program at Bilkent University. He became the first Turk elected to the board of directors of the European Choir Federation; He later served as vice president of this institution.
There are some successes that cannot be attributed to just one person. Behind it lies the labor of a field, years of experience, unseen work, and hours spent in rehearsal halls.
Burak Onur Erdem's presidency of the International Choral Music Federation stands in such a place. It is an important step from Turkey opening up to the world, multiplying voices together and reminding us of the unifying power of music.
