İdil Biret Concert Program American College for Girls Istanbul 1966–67

Concert Program - Friends of Music Society, American College for Girls, Istanbul, 1966–67

Description:
An original concert program from the 1966–67 season, organized by the Friends of Music Society at the American College for Girls, Istanbul (Üsküdar). The college, founded in 1873 as Constantinople Home, was initially a Protestant missionary institution for educating girls mainly from the Armenian, Bulgarian, Greek, and other Orthodox Christian communities of Istanbul later expanding to include Muslim students as well.

This particular concert holds special significance as it features Idil Biret, the world-renowned Turkish pianist, alongside celebrated Turkish artists Ayhan Baran (bass-baritone), Ayla Erduran (violinist), and the Ankara Chamber Orchestra. The program highlights the role of the American College for Girls as not only an educational institution but also a cultural hub, hosting prominent musicians of the time.

Key Features:

• Type: Concert program

• Organizer: Friends of Music Society, American College for Girls (Istanbul)

• Date: 1966–67 season

• Performers: Idil Biret (piano), Ayhan Baran (bass-baritone), Ayla Erduran (violin), Ankara Chamber Orchestra

• Language: English and Turkish (program text)

• Historical Context: The American College for Girls, established 1873 in Üsküdar, was a landmark institution for women’s education in the Ottoman Empire and Republican Turkey, fostering both academic and cultural development.

• Significance: Rare ephemera documenting an early Istanbul performance by internationally acclaimed Turkish musicians, with strong ties to one of Turkey’s most influential educational institutions.