The Ayvalık International Music Academy (AIMA), founded by Prof. Filiz Ali in 1988, offers a chance for gifted Turkish students, who are receiving classical music education at conservatoires and music schools, to attend masterclasses from international musicians.During the summer and fall terms, the AIMA organizes "Music Master Courses," focusing mainly on bowed string instruments. Thanks to these courses, students have the chance to expand their musical horizons and study with world-renowned musicians.The subject of the workshops and the masterclasses changes every year, allowing music students from around the world to meet with the international musicians at the academy.The intensive week-long classes conclude with closing concerts performed by the students and their teachers.The AIMA believes that the youth living outside of Turkey's big metropolises, like Ankara, Istanbul and İzmir, also have the right to access high quality musical education and musicians.It aims to enrich the cultural life in Balıkesir's Ayvalık, where the academy was originally founded.Evolving over time, the AIMA now offers classes like composition, creative writing, piano and guitar, in addition to string instruments, with the aim of inspiring youth interested in the other branches of the arts.The 2017 Summer Term Music Master Courses will start with a double-bass class under the guidance of Onur Özkaya, which will be held from June 18-24.It will continue with violin and viola classes with Andrej Bielow and Marco Misciagna from July 22-30.In September, the cello masterclass of Alexander Rudin will be held from Sept. 7-14 and the term will come to an end with a piano class under the direction of İdil Biret.Later that month, from Sept. 25-30, "The Workshop of Alexander's Technique" will be held.Music students will have the chance to analyze their habits, reactions and behaviors during the workshop to help improve their relationship with the instruments. Meanwhile, the orchestra will be at Taksiyarhis Church, part of Rahmi M. Koç Museum in Cunda, Ayvalık, and will perform at the AIMA Music Festival.