Award-winning Turkish teen cellist set to perform at New York's Carnegie Hall

By Betul Yuruk

NEW YORK (AA) - A 14-year-old Turkish cellist has been invited to give a concert at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall when she receives first prize in the Golden Classical Music Awards.

Dilay Ra Oygur won a prize for her age group after playing a piece by Haydn in her first solo recital. Oygur also played a piece by Ahmet Adnan Saygun, a 20th-century Turkish composer who himself also performed at Carnegie Hall.

Oygur told Anadolu Agency that she was able to come to New York after a long search and efforts to find a sponsor.

Oygur said she has been playing the cello since she was 10 years old and now is studying in the Aydin province at the Adnan Menderes University State Conservatory high school division.

"I don’t think I could live without the cello," she said.

Oygur also gave a mini concert at an event organized by the Turkish Consulate General at its Turkevi across from UN headquarters in New York.

In other international honors, the young musician previously took second place in the teacher-student category in the 3rd Danubia Talents Liszt International Music Competition in Hungary, third place in the US King's Peak Music Competition, third place in the UK Mecidi International Music Competition, third place at the 3rd Wiener Klassiker International Music Competition in Hungary, third place at the 5th Danubia Talents International Online Music Competition, and honorable mention at the 4th Danubia Talents International Music Competition in Hungary, and was honored at Turkey’s 5th Istanbul International Young Talents Music Competition.