Mersin International Music Festival

Mersin International Music Festival (Mersin Uluslararası Müzik Festivali) is an annual music festival held in Mersin, Turkey.In every year a lot of artist take part the festival from Spain,Italy,USA,Hungary,France,Ukraine,Russia and Germany

Mersin International Music festival (merfest for short) is a non-governmental project sponsored by the private companies, Mersin University, municipalities and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It was organized by Mersin cultural society (Mersin Kültür Merkezi Derneği) between 2002-2007 and now it is organized by Mersin Art activities Society (Mersin Sanat Etkinlikleri Derneği) after 2008.^[1] After 2007, the festival became a member of EFA, The European Festivals Association ^[2]

Most of the concerts are held in the concert halls like Mersin Cultural Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Cultural Center of Mersin Municipality, Uğur Oral Cultural Center and Amphitheater of Mersin University. However, every year one concert is held in St Paulus Museum in Tarsus and another (outdoor concert) in Kanlıdivane. (Tarsus is 27 kilometres (17 mi)^* east and Kanlıdivane is 55 kilometres (34 mi)^* west of Mersin)

The programme of 2010 is below^[3]:

• Pianist İdil Biret 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, 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)

• József Lendvay ensemble

• Denyce Graves with the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra under Işın METİN

• Ilya Gringolts with the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra under Işın METİN

• Jass a Turca Quartet

• Jassing Flamenco

• The Ahn Trio