ABOUT US

Founded in 2010 by conductor Burak Onur Erdem, Rezonans has since become one of the leading ensembles shaping the development of contemporary choral culture in Türkiye. Built upon the principles of “excellence” and “innovation,” the choir has distinguished itself through consistently high musical standards, from repertoire selection to stage performance. In a short time, Rezonans earned its place among the most respected chamber choirs in the country. Beyond its performances, the ensemble has made significant contributions to the wider recognition of choral music in Türkiye through its disciplined working culture and strong international collaborations.

From its early years, Rezonans has appeared at prestigious European festivals and competitions. Its international journey began with a second prize at the Cork International Fleischmann Trophy (Ireland, 2016) and continued with awards at competitions in Arezzo (Italy, 2017), Varna (Bulgaria, 2018), and Marktoberdorf (Germany, 2019). Through these achievements, the ensemble has represented Türkiye with distinction on international choral platforms. Rezonans has also taken part in Europa Cantat Festivals (Pécs 2015, Tallinn 2018), meeting thousands of music lovers while representing the country. In 2024, the choir was invited to the Marktoberdorf Musica Sacra Festival as a featured ensemble, where it not only performed concerts in various cities but also served as a pilot choir in festival choir sessions, further strengthening its distinguished position within the European choral scene.

Throughout its career, Rezonans has shared the stage with some of the world’s most prominent conductors and ensembles, becoming an important representative of intercultural musical exchange. The choir has worked with renowned conductors such as Eric Whitacre, Nigel Short, Jo-Michael Scheibe, Volker Hempfling, Georg Grün, Yuval Weinberg, Lodewijk van der Ree, and Frieder Bernius, and has collaborated with internationally acclaimed choirs including Junges Vokalensemble Hannover, Yale Schola Cantorum, Salt Lake Vocal Artists, Madrid Youth Choir, and the Norwegian National Youth Choir. In Türkiye, Rezonans has appeared at major events such as the Istanbul Music Festival, Opus Amadeus Chamber Music Festival, SANSEV, and the Izmir Polyphonic Choirs Festival, bringing the country’s choral tradition to wider audiences. The ensemble has performed at prestigious venues including the Hagia Irene Museum, Zorlu PSM, Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall, Atatürk Cultural Center, CSO Ada Ankara, St. Anthony of Padua Church, the Austrian Cultural Office, and the German Consulate General, sharing its artistic quality with diverse audiences.

Beyond its international success, Rezonans occupies a unique place in Türkiye’s choral landscape through its commitment to contemporary music. The choir has given world premieres of works by Turkish composers such as Hasan Uçarsu, Özkan Manav, Nedim Yıldız, Recep Gül, and Emre Orhon, while also presenting Turkish premieres of works by international composers including Wolfram Buchenberg, Lorenzo Donati, Eric Whitacre, and Kamran İnce. By bringing together musical traditions from different cultures in each concert, Rezonans aims to create a universal narrative—carrying the distinctive voice of Turkish choral music to the world while continuing to introduce contemporary examples of the international choral repertoire to audiences in Türkiye.