Ilkim Tongur is a Turkish-Canadian composer based in Calgary. She composed for solo instruments, voice, chamber ensembles, orchestra, electronics, and a combination of acoustics and electronics. Her works were performed in Turkey, Canada, Switzerland, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. by several prominent groups, including Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, Lands' End Ensemble, TimePoint Ensemble, and Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra. Described in Calgary Herald as "Ms. Tongur is a composer already in possession of tremendous confidence and shows astute use of her instrumentation… Ms. Tongur has made a remarkable splash with her lovely work."
Dr. Tongur holds Bachelor's (2001) and a Master's in Music (2004), both in composition and conducting from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in Istanbul, Master's in Music Composition from the University of Manitoba (2012). She completed her Ph.D. in Music Composition in 2017 at the University of Calgary. Finally, in 2021 she completed an Education Degree at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. Since 1994, she has taught a wide range of musical subjects—including harmony, theory, piano, choir, band, solfeggio, musicianship, counterpoint, music history, and composition—both privately and at institutions such as Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, the University of Calgary, and Westmount Charter School. Currently she is the music director at Westmount Charter School and Scandinavian Choir. She continues to teach piano, music theory and composition at Tongur Music.
As an established composer Ilkim Tongur has an international profile. In her works she aims to create the beauty in its most raw and eloquent flow. She is interested in composing music that is deeply expressive and authentic. Her music captures a whimsical atmosphere and unfolds in unexpected ways. She is invested in telling stories through her music. Some of her inspirations and subjects include our shared human nature, the cultural evolution of people in semi isolation, isolation or in multicultural environments, poetry, mother nature's profound beauty in all scales from quanta to superclusters of galaxies, landscapes, soundscapes, creatures of nature, love and wonder, violence, trauma, displacement, turmoil, and her personal magical journey on this planet. Even though she is an author of short stories, some which were published, she still thinks music captures most the everything we feel in our bodies with more intensity and depth. She continues to accept commission and compose music. If you are interested in commissioning please don't hesitate to contact.
Dr. Tongur holds Bachelor's (2001) and a Master's in Music (2004), both in composition and conducting from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in Istanbul, Master's in Music Composition from the University of Manitoba (2012). She completed her Ph.D. in Music Composition in 2017 at the University of Calgary. Finally, in 2021 she completed an Education Degree at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. Since 1994, she has taught a wide range of musical subjects—including harmony, theory, piano, choir, band, solfeggio, musicianship, counterpoint, music history, and composition—both privately and at institutions such as Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, the University of Calgary, and Westmount Charter School. Currently she is the music director at Westmount Charter School and Scandinavian Choir. She continues to teach piano, music theory and composition at Tongur Music.
As an established composer Ilkim Tongur has an international profile. In her works she aims to create the beauty in its most raw and eloquent flow. She is interested in composing music that is deeply expressive and authentic. Her music captures a whimsical atmosphere and unfolds in unexpected ways. She is invested in telling stories through her music. Some of her inspirations and subjects include our shared human nature, the cultural evolution of people in semi isolation, isolation or in multicultural environments, poetry, mother nature's profound beauty in all scales from quanta to superclusters of galaxies, landscapes, soundscapes, creatures of nature, love and wonder, violence, trauma, displacement, turmoil, and her personal magical journey on this planet. Even though she is an author of short stories, some which were published, she still thinks music captures most the everything we feel in our bodies with more intensity and depth. She continues to accept commission and compose music. If you are interested in commissioning please don't hesitate to contact.
