Famous Turkish musicians join hands to help refugees with music classes

Turkey's renowned musicians are joining a new project run by the Musical Work Owners Society of Turkey (MSG) that will begin music classes at refugee camps. Each week a musician or singer will give a session to Syrian refugees, hoping to ease their physiological sufferings, an article by Turkish daily Habertürk reported.

The southeastern city of Kilis, which has been the target of recent rocket attacks, has been chosen as the pilot scheme. After the initial trials, the project will be expanded to other cities. The project was recently presented to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu by MSG president and composer Garo Mafyan and deputy president and musician Ferhat Göçer along with MSG board member Cengiz Erdem.

The classes will be free of charge and the first classes will be given by Mafyan and Göçer. Mafyan said famous singers will visit camps for classes, while music lecturers and local musicians will contribute as well. "As MSG, we just want to make a small contribution to the refugee situation in Turkey." The classes are scheduled to open within a month in Kilis, and all music classes will be completed by the end of 2016.

Göçer added that the project will help children forget what they have experienced so far - at least to a certain extent. "We want to show them that we do not merely regard them as refuges, but embrace them with our love. Music is the best way to show it," Göçer continued. The MSG has a large member group featuring prominent names and groups from the Turkish music industry like Tarkan, Sezen Aksu, Yalın, Kenan Doğulu, Göksel, Athena and Gripin. In Kilis' Elbeyli camp, Syrian refugees had previously formed a music group with the support of Turkish musician Mustafa Ertekin, which enables Syrian performers who have fled the war in their country to revive their profession and culture. The musical group is composed of 11 refugees and an orchestra director. The group performs concerts, plays at welcoming ceremonies for national and international officials visiting the camp and other shows for special occasions.