Mersin International Music Festival

Mersin International Music Festival is a non-governmental project sponsored by private companies, Mersin University, local municipalities and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It was established in 2002 to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the Mersin State Opera and Ballet.{{Cite web |last=Festivali |first=Mersin Uluslararası Müzik |title=Tarihçe |url=https://www.merfest.org.tr/history/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Merfest |language=tr}} The festival was organized until 2007 by Mersin Cultural Society ({{langx|tr|Mersin Kültür Merkezi Derneği}}). Since 2008, Mersin Art Activities Society ({{langx|tr|Mersin Sanat Etkinlikleri Derneği}}) organizes the event.{{cite web |url=http://www.merfest.org.tr/index1.aspx?lang=1&mid1=17 |title=Mersin Sanat Etkinlikleri Derneği |accessdate=2010-06-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624053840/http://www.merfest.org.tr/index1.aspx?lang=1&mid1=17 |archivedate=2010-06-24 }} In 2007, the festival became a member of the European Festivals Association (EFA).{{Cite web |title=Mersin International Music Festival - European Festivals Association |url=https://www.festivalfinder.eu/festivals/mersin-international-music-festival |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=www.festivalfinder.eu |language=en}} By 2013 the festival had grown to host more than 350 performers during the event.{{Cite web |date=2013-05-06 |title=International festival bringing music and stars to Mersin |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/international-festival-bringing-music-and-stars-to-mersin-46328 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Hürriyet Daily News |language=en}} That year it opened with a concert from the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra and Shlomo Mintz. In addition to Turkish artists, performers from Spain, Italy, United States, Hungary, Germany, France, Russia, Japan and Korea have participated in the festival.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Mersin Uluslararası Müzik Festivali {{!}} Merfest {{!}} Mumf |url=https://www.merfest.org.tr/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Merfest |language=tr}}

Most of the concerts are held in the halls of Mersin Cultural Center (Mersin Halkevi), Congress and Exhibition Center, Uğur Oral Cultural Center and Mersin University's Amphitheater. However, every year one concert is held at St Paulus Church in Tarsus and another one at Kanlıdivane, being an outdoor concert. Tarsus is located {{convert|27|km|mi|abbr=on}} east, and Kanlıdivane {{convert|55|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of Mersin.

The programme of 2010 Mersin International Music Festival was as follows:{{cite web |url=http://www.merfest.org.tr/main.aspx?lang=2 |title=Sanat Etki̇nli̇kleri̇ Derneği̇ - Mersi̇n |accessdate=2010-06-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504021425/http://www.merfest.org.tr/main.aspx?lang=2 |archivedate=2011-05-04 }}

• İdil Biret (piano) with the Mersin State Opera and Ballet Orchestra under Myron Romanul
• Group Lock Out (former Bumerang)
• Group Turkuaz
• Trio Libero/Ankara Trombone quartet
• Yıldız İbrahimova (jazz singer) with Girift Trio (consisting of Tahir Aydoğdu, Bilgin Canaz and Çetin Bilge Akıncı)
• Satoko Tanaka (soprano), Satoko Kato (co-player, piano) and Satoko Inoue (piano)
• Jozsef Lendvay (violin) ensemble
• Denyce Graves (mezzo-soprano) with the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra under Işın Metin
• Ilya Gringolts (violin) with the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra under Işın Metin
• Jass a Turca Quartet
• Jassing Flamenco
• The Ahn Trio

• Mediterranean Opera and Ballet Club
• İçel Sanat Kulübü
• Mersin Citrus Festival

{{Jazz festival}}

{{Members of the European Festival Association}}

Category:Music festivals established in 2002

Category:Culture in Mersin

Category:Music festivals in Turkey

Category:Annual events in Turkey

Category:Classical music festivals in Turkey

Category:Jazz festivals in Turkey

Category:Tourist attractions in Mersin

Category:2002 establishments in Turkey