This week’s guest on the program “With Eylül Aşkın,” presented by Eylül Aşkın, was retired State Opera and Ballet soloist and founder-president of the Peace Children’s Orchestra Protection and Development Association, Selmin Günöz.

We filmed this episode in İzmir, Eşrefpaşa, at the Peace Children’s Orchestra Protection and Development Association. Although we couldn’t make it in time for the children’s rehearsal due to transportation issues, we personally witnessed—at the very last moment—how carefully and lovingly each of them packed up their instruments, and shared in their joy.

The Implementer of El Sistema in Turkey

Selmin Günöz, who stated that she was deeply influenced by El Sistema early in her professional life and has followed its activities for a long time, focused primarily on the dual themes of El Sistema and the Peace Children’s Orchestra during our conversation. She is one of the prominent figures who has worked for over thirty years as an opera singer both nationally and internationally, and for many years as a manager of cultural institutions.

Extra Attention for Talented Children

Selmin Günöz stated that within the ten-year-old “Peace Music Orchestra,” there are children who have been involved in the organization for the entire decade. Emphasizing that they pay special attention to the development of talented children who wish to pursue music education, she said:
“Right now, two of our children are studying at Dokuz Eylül University State Conservatory, and both are very successful. Recently, they even formed a trio in their orchestra and entered an international competition with it—they came in second place. I can’t even express how proud I am! Another one of our children enrolled in Ege University’s Turkish Music Conservatory—he chose that path. Five of our children were admitted to fine arts high schools. We didn’t push any of them. Watching their success is incredibly rewarding.”

Working with a Volunteer Psychologist for the Healthy Development of Children

After the Barış İçin Müzik Foundation, which followed the El Sistema educational model, closed down due to financial difficulties during the pandemic, the Peace Children’s Orchestra Protection and Development Association remains the only institution in Turkey currently applying El Sistema’s approach directly. Beyond the benefits offered by El Sistema, the association also provides additional services to support children’s development.
The Peace Children’s Orchestra stands out as an inclusive educational association that not only supports children and their mothers with the help of a volunteer psychologist, but also compensates for the removal of “Citizenship” and etiquette lessons—known as Adab-ı Muaşeret—from the Turkish education system. The goal is to raise children as well-rounded individuals who are equipped to contribute to society in every sense.

Italy Denied Visas

The association, a member of the European El Sistema Group, selected five students to attend the 2024 El Sistema camp in Italy and even provided English lessons to help them communicate abroad without difficulty. Founder Selmin Günöz sadly stated that they couldn’t attend the camp because their visa applications for Italy were denied. While expressing her disappointment with Italy over this issue, she emphasized that they will not give up and will try again for camps to be held in other countries.

Not Only Children’s Lives, But Also Mothers’ Lives Are Changing!

During our interview, when I asked Selmin Günöz about the impact the Peace Children’s Orchestra has had on the community, her heartfelt response moved me to tears with joy and pride:
“One day, we were working on Shostakovich. His name was a bit difficult for the children to pronounce at first. They eventually learned it, of course—we laughed and played with it, even creating little variations based on the pronunciation. They also really loved the piece, Waltz No. 2. Then one day, a child came and said: ‘Teacher, I practice all the time at home. Now even my mom sings the Shostakovich song while cooking!’
At that moment, I thought, ‘If I’ve got a mother in this neighborhood humming a Shostakovich waltz while making dinner, something is definitely going right!’”

They Are Hoping for Support!

Emphasizing that all of the association’s expenses are primarily covered through her own efforts, volunteers, and sponsors, Selmin Günöz explained that the continuity of the association is sustained through donations collected at annual concerts featuring well-known artists, as well as financial contributions from volunteers. She noted that anyone wishing to donate can obtain the relevant IBAN number by reaching out via their website or Instagram. Selmin Günöz especially called on those who are financially well-off to lend their support.

Believing that the expansion of initiatives adopting the El Sistema model within Turkey would lead to a significant decrease in crime rates, Selmin Günöz added:
“Even political relations would be positively affected—there would be fewer fights. If only it could happen.”