International Federation for Choral Music

As part of the WSCM tradition, six WSCM 2026 invited choirs will be paired with six commissioned composers, culminating in world premieres at their gala concerts at the Macau Cultural Centre. Reflecting the symposium’s theme, each choir will perform a newly created work by a composer from a different country, creating a dynamic space for cultural exchange and musical dialogue.

Çiğdem Aytepe (Türkiye)

Çiğdem Aytepe is a choral conductor, composer, and educator who has played a formative role in developing generations of choral singers in Türkiye. Recognized for her impactful projects and collaborative works, she has been a faculty member at Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory since 2005. Since 2015, composition has taken on a growing role in Çiğdem’s artistic practice. Writing primarily for amateur choirs, she focuses on balancing technical accessibility with musical depth. Works composed within this framework have received recognition in national competitions. Çiğdem also arranges Turkish folk songs, prioritizing the preservation of their natural, traditional structure. She views composition not merely as musical production, but as a space where cultural memory is sustained, bridging communities and traditions through intercultural dialogue.

Çiğdem Aytepe’s note on Shamans, Stars and Our Hearts

As I think about the future, I find myself sinking deeper into the world’s history filled with immense suffering. If humanity could truly descend to the deepest roots of its life-destroying actions, could these sufferings finally come to an end? As I worked with my images, translating them into music, the words of our time did not resonate with me. I was drawn to ancient word roots and fragments of syllables. And I was drawn to the idea of hiding the meaning, even keeping it pure. In my composition, there are shamans seeking knowledge from the stars, witnessing the agony of humanity. During the great meteor shower they have been waiting for, the knowledge flowing into their hearts says only this:

listen and understand;
the heart of the world
the heart of the other
your own heart