Divan Australis: Horizons

Experience a celebration of music, culture and connection as artists from across the world come together for Divan Australis: Horizons

Australian Turkish Melodies of Peace Inc, a registered not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting cultural harmony through the unifying power of music, proudly presents Divan Australis: Horizons, a spectacular cross-cultural concert.

Bringing together acclaimed international and local artists for one unforgettable evening, Divan Australis: Horizons creates an artistic bridge between diverse musical traditions. The program weaves the rich musical heritage of the Orient with Western symphonic textures and distinctly Australian elements, celebrating music’s ability to transcend borders, connect communities and foster cultural understanding.

Under the artistic direction of celebrated Turkish-Australian conductor, composer and bağlama virtuoso İskender Ozan Toprak, the Divan Australis Orchestra will bring together an exceptional line-up of international and local artists:

Çimen Yalçın
A Turkish folk music artist renowned for her distinctive style, powerful voice and multilingual repertoire, preserving and celebrating the rich musical heritage of Anatolia’s diverse regions.

Halil Çokyürekli
A world-renowned zurna virtuoso and master musician who takes the instrument beyond its traditional boundaries, blending its distinctive sound with jazz and other musical genres.

Uncle Ian Hunter
A respected Wurundjeri Elder and didgeridoo virtuoso who brings the ancient musical and storytelling traditions of Australia to the stage with extraordinary artistry.

Lei Zhou
A master performer of the pipa, the traditional Chinese instrument with a history spanning more than 2,000 years, bringing China’s rich musical heritage to life through technical mastery and expressive performance.

Brandon Lee
An internationally experienced koto artist who trained in Tokyo under world-renowned koto virtuoso Kazue Sawai, bringing the 1,300-year-old tradition of Japanese koto into dialogue with contemporary music and cross-cultural collaboration.

Sinem Bolat
A Turkish folk music artist whose powerful interpretations bring the traditions of Anatolian folk music and the âşık minstrel tradition to Melbourne audiences, with a repertoire extending from Âşık Veysel to Âşık Mahzuni Şerif.

Melda Ceylanbaş & Harley Efron
A dynamic vocal duo whose wide-ranging repertoire spans musical theatre, jazz, R&B, pop and soul, combining their distinctive vocal styles with a shared passion for storytelling through music.

More than a concert, Divan Australis: Horizons is a celebration of peace, tradition, innovation and intercultural connection through the universal language of music.