Rengim Gökmen

Rengim Gokmen (born August 19, 1955) is a Turkish conductor. He is the Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of Presidential Symphony Orchestra and General Director of Turkish State Opera and Ballet.

Rengim Gökmen was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1955. He had his first music lessons from his family and was admitted to the piano section of the Ankara State Conservatory in 1964. Subsequently, he was admitted to the Composition section of the same conservatory and there he studied with İlhan Baran and Adnan Saygun. He graduated from these sections with honors in 1974.

In 1975 Rengim Gökmen was awarded with a scholarship by the Turkish Government to continue his studies on orchestra conducting in Rome. He became the student of orchestra conducting class in Santa Cecilia Conservatory. In the meantime he made advanced studies on violin which he had started in Turkey. Subsequently, he was admitted to the course for advanced studies in orchestra conducting in Santa Cecilia National Academy under the direction of Franco Ferrara.

He received his diploma from Santa Cecilia Conservatory in 1978 and in the same year he qualified for ‘’Diploma di Merito’’ by Accademia Chigiana in Siena.

In 1979, Rengim Gökmen completed his advanced studies at Academy of Santa Cecilia. His achievements qualified him to conduct a concert with Orchestra Nazionale dell’ Accademia di Santa Cecilia at Via della Conciliazione.

He also attended summer courses on orchestra conducting in Austria, England and Netherlands.

In July 1980, he won Gino Marinuzzi contest for young international conductors. After returning home, the concert that he conducted Beethoven's Ninth Symphony created a huge reflection on the audience and the critics. Then he conducted many orchestras both in Turkey and in Europe.

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