Simpson College Guest String Artist Recital

Dr. Volkan Orhon, bassist and the 2025 Simpson College Guest String Artist, will perform a recital on Sunday, September 21st, at 2:00 pm in Lekberg Hall of the Amy Robertson Music Building, 511 N. Buxton St., Indianola. Dr. Rose Chancler will collaborate with him on piano. The one-hour recital is free and open to the public, as is the reception following the performance. A native of Turkey, Dr. Orhon will perform the music of two Turkish composers, Fazil Say and Turgay Erdener. He will also perform works by the American composer Aaron Copland and the Swiss-born composer Ernest Bloch. Mr. Orhon began playing the double bass at the age of 12, and spent much of his youth touring Europe with the Mediterranean Youth Soloists. After receiving his bachelor's degree from the Ankara State Conservatory (Turkey) under the tutelage of Tahir Sumer, he became a member of the Ankara Presidential Symphony Orchestra. In 1991, Mr. Orhon came to the United States to continue his studies with Gary Karr at The Hartt School of Music, where he earned an Artist Diploma and Master of Music. Dr. Orhon has performed recitals at such institutions as the Paris Conservatory and the Norwegian Academy of Music, and as a soloist with orchestras around the world, such as the Royal Philharmonic in London. He has been invited to perform at the European double bass conferences in Paris, Berlin, Prague, Lucca and Wroclaw. Dr. Orhon was a finalist and prizewinner in the Concert Artists Guild Solo Competition in New York City, and was the co-first place winner of the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition. Additionally, he distinguished himself as the first double bass player ever to win the grand prize overall and first prize for double bass at the American String Teacher's Association Solo Competition. Dr. Orhon is currently professor of double bass at the University of Iowa. He is a D'Addario Diamond Performing Artist.

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