About Us
Founded in March 2023, the San Diego Turkish Music Chorus is an ensemble dedicated to performing and preserving Turkish music within the local community. Born from a shared love of Turkish music and culture, the group meets weekly to hone their performances and foster a sense of community among musicians and enthusiasts alike.
Our conductor, Necmi Hoke — a skilled kanun player — brings a wealth of experience to the group, ensuring each performance is both authentic and artistically refined.
The chorus specializes in performing Turkish traditional music and seeks to preserve and promote the rich heritage of Turkish classical music, ensuring that this traditional art form continues to thrive. Our concert repertoire includes Turkish classical pieces from the 17th–20th centuries as well as folk songs from different regions of Türkiye, accompanied by traditional instruments including the ney (reed flute), oud (lute), darbuka (goblet drum), and kanun (zither).
Our Mission
At the San Diego Turkish Music Chorus, we are dedicated to building a strong, inclusive community that fosters lasting connections through Turkish music. Our ensemble serves as a hub for cultural exchange, allowing both the Turkish-American community and the broader public to engage with the rhythms, melodies, and stories that define Turkish music. We strive to be more than just a music group; we aim to build a community united by a passion for cultural heritage, artistic expression, and the power of music. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, we ensure that Turkish music remains a dynamic and evolving part of Southern California's cultural fabric.
Music is our passion, and through it, we tell the stories of our culture — honoring the past while embracing the future. Through our performances and weekly practices, we aim to introduce new generations and the larger community to the beauty of Turkish music, while keeping its traditions alive and evolving.
Whether you're an experienced musician or new to Turkish music, our group offers a space where you can explore, learn, and contribute to the universal language of rhythm and melody. Every week, our group gathers for practice at the UCSD La Jolla campus, where nearly 50 musicians and choristers come together to create the beautiful sounds of Turkish music and deepen their understanding and appreciation of this vibrant art form. Our sessions include a wide range of traditional and modern instruments such as the qanun, oud, darbuka, def, ney, guitar, trumpet, and saxophone.
Our History
Founded in March 2023, the San Diego Turkish Music Chorus is an ensemble dedicated to performing and preserving Turkish music within the local community. Born from a shared love of Turkish music and culture, our group meets weekly to hone our performances and foster a sense of community among musicians and enthusiasts alike. Our conductor, Necmi Hoke — a skilled kanun player — brings a wealth of experience to the group, ensuring each performance is both authentic and artistically refined.
Since our inception, the San Diego Turkish Music Chorus has proudly represented Turkish music at both Turkish and international festivals throughout Southern California. We celebrated our first anniversary with a well-received concert in March 2024, marking a successful year of growth and musical contribution. Each year, we aim to hold several group concerts with different themes. We are proud of our growing social media presence, and our goal is to reach a larger audience through these channels.
We also take pride in honoring key dates in Turkish history, celebrating national holidays with dedicated performances. These events hold significant cultural value, providing a platform for members and audiences to connect with Turkish heritage and tradition.
Through the efforts of the ATASC-SD San Diego Turkish Music Chorus, the City of San Diego officially proclaimed a month as "Turkish Heritage Month." This official proclamation, signed by the Mayor, honors the Republic of Turkiye and celebrates Turkish culture. This meaningful recognition marks an important milestone in representing our community and Turkish music in the United States.
The ATASC-SD (Association of Turkish Americans, Southern California - San Diego) chapter is part of a larger organization first founded in 1953 as the "Turkish-American Club," making it the oldest and largest Turkish American nonprofit organization in Southern California.
Our commitment to music and culture not only strengthens community bonds but also ensures that the legacy of Turkish music flourishes for generations to come.