The Event

Dear CATWAO members,

We celebrated our first year anniversary with a memorable musical evening last Thursday, March 9^th at the Lawrence Freiman Hall of the University of Ottawa.  Beautiful music flowed throughout the performance as the great musician Evelyn Greenberg¹ (CATWAO member) accompanied the young violinist Bahar Buberoglu² in Turkish music and Seda Guvener³, the mezzo-soprano, (CATWAO member) as she sang in five languages (English, French, German, Italian and Turkish).  It was a musical tour around the world, in perfect harmony with the cultural bridges we are trying to build.  The program is attached for your info.

H.E. Aydemir Erman and Mrs. Erman, CATWAO honorary member, also joined us for this joyous occasion and our members and their guests enjoyed the wine and cheese reception following the performance.  Members who missed this celebration are in luck as it will be shown on the “Turkish Horizon” program of Rogers TV Channel 22, on Sunday, March 19, at 10:30 AM, with a repeat showing on Saturday, March 25 at 10:30 AM., thanks to Billur Khan, Community Producer and CATWAO member.

This event took place during the International Women’s Week as women are acknowledged and recognized throughout the world.  As their struggle for equality continues, we can, from our little corner, salute all women who wear many “hats” as selfless and compassionate mothers, tireless and determined workers, talented and creative artists and performers and volunteers whose contributions to their communities are invaluable. 

We consider ourselves very lucky to be surrounded with talent and creativity and will continue to look for ways to get to know each other better. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank once again Ms. Evelyn Greenberg who has so graciously accepted to participate in this event and, as always, has been such a great inspiration to the young performers; and Seda Guvener and Bahar Buberoglu for their enthusiasm and great performance.

CATWAO Executive Committee

1. Evelyn Greenberg is considered one of Ottawa’s foremost accompanists.  For many years she was a member of the Faculty of the Department of Music at the University of Ottawa where she taught accompaniment and coordinated the ensemble classes.

She was the pianist and harpsichordist with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Ottawa symphony Orchestra, the Nepean Symphony and the CBC Studio Orchestra.

Evelyn Greenberg has performed throughout Canada and abroad, most notably at the Canadian embassies in Washington and Tokyo.  Her versatility as a pianist has resulted in much demand for her services in classical as well as musical theater repertoire.

Ms. Greenberg volunteers her musical talent in retirement homes, chronic care facilities, palliative wards and hospitals.  She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Ottawa at the June convocation in 2005 and Evelyn Greenberg Music Endowment Fund has recently been established in perpetuity by the University.  “Evelyn is a real institution and very much loved” says David Mitchell, university vice-president.

Ms. Greenberg is the proud mother of three children and four grand-children.

2. Bahar Buberoglu is 20 years old and she’s studying biology at Carleton University. She's been playing the violin ever since she immigrated to Canada 9 years ago. She pursued her violin career at Arts Canterbury High School and has performed in various Canadian cities such as Montreal and the greater Ottawa region.

She plays with the Ottawa Classical Turkish Music Group conducted by one of Turkey’s well known musicians, Ismail  Hakki Fencioglu and also at special events.

3. Seda Guvener was born in Izmir, Turkiye.  She completed her secondary school education in Saint Joseph French High School in Izmir and went on to Dokuz Eylul University in the same city, where she studied flute and voice.  Seda graduated with honours from the Performing Arts (Opera) Division. 

During this time she studied with tenor Konstantin Lissovsky, now music instructor to the Red Army Choir in Russia. And also worked with soprano Lia Lantieri. She played a role in Bellini's Norma which was staged by the Izmir State Opera and Ballet Company. 

She also performed as Alto soloist in Handel's "Israel in Egypt" with Canadian Amateur Musicians Association in Ottawa. 

She is continuing her career in Ottawa.