Thanks to JERUS-IT-ARTS, two students from the G.B. Martini Conservatory of Bologna, Margherita Minardi and Cecilia Gargano, took part in an enriching student mobility program at Hacettepe University in Ankara. The objective was to research, experiment with, and innovate historical and musicological methods linking Italy and the Middle East through Renaissance, Baroque, and traditional music.

 

ceciliaCecilia

Good morning, Cecilia, can you tell us about your experience as a scholarship holder on the JERUS-IT-ARTS exchange program between the Bologna Conservatory and Hacettepe University in Ankara?

Hi, I'm Cecilia. I'm a guitarist and currently in my second year of a two-year program at the Bologna Conservatory, studying classical guitar. I decided to participate in this exchange primarily for the artistic quality of the program.
Music is a true bridge between different musical traditions and cultures. It was very interesting to see how we were able to engage with our Turkish partners through music and try to create a dialogue between these different traditions, which, in reality, have many commonalities.
A moment that will remain particularly memorable is the final concert. There, I had the opportunity to play some traditional Turkish pieces with some of the Turkish partners on my instrument, the classical guitar, accompanied by traditional Turkish instruments. It was the epitome of what JERUS-IT-ARTS represents for me.

How is Italian culture perceived in Turkey, in your experience?

It's very interesting. During my exchange, we had the opportunity to explore how Italian musical culture is perceived abroad, and we had the opportunity to interact
with Turkish students, to see and experience how Italian culture has expanded even in these worlds that seem so distant from our own.

margheritaMargherita

Good morning Margherita, can you tell us about your experience as a scholarship holder on the exchange program between the Conservatory of Bologna and Hacettepe University in Ankara, as part of JERUS-IT-ARTS?

I'm Margherita Minardi, a student of Renaissance and Baroque singing at the Giovan Battista Martini Conservatory of Bologna. My exchange experience with Hacettepe University in Ankara was very positive, a true cultural exchange. We learned a lot about Middle Eastern culture, the Byzantine culture of Anatolia. But not only that: we discussed the work of several Italian composers, and our colleagues there told us about the strong Italian presence in Turkey. For example, Giuseppe Donizetti, brother of Gaetano Donizetti, died in
Istanbul. Italian musical culture is being promoted in the Middle East.

What was the most enjoyable moment of this training program, both theoretically and practically?

Interacting with their students was definitely one of the things I enjoyed most because, beyond the language barrier, music overcomes all obstacles.

Whether we're Italian or Turkish, we speak the same language of music. It was very interesting to take inspiration from teachers and students and combine our knowledge with theirs.
We participated in a beautiful final concert, where teachers from the Bologna Conservatory and Hacettepe University, and students from both places, played together: our teachers from Bologna played with the Turkish students, and we, Italian students, played with the Turkish teachers. Now we're waiting for them to come to us and we can't wait to welcome them with open arms, just as they did with us.