Turkish Ney Artist Sinem Hondaroglu Performs in Cairo

Turkish ney performer Sinem Hondaroglu met art and music enthusiasts in Cairo during a special cultural event hosted by the Grand Egyptian Museum on May 18 in celebration of International Museum Day.

The event, held under the theme “Museums Unite a Divided World,” brought together artists from several countries and featured performances highlighting cultural dialogue and artistic exchange. Hondaroglu received strong praise from the audience during her live ney performance, which introduced attendees to the delicate sound and spiritual atmosphere of traditional Turkish music.

Hondaroglu is regarded as one of Turkey’s leading ney performers, with a long artistic career spanning productions for Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, orchestral performances, and appearances on international stages.

She began her musical journey in Ankara, where she studied classical Turkish music through TRT institutions. She later worked on radio programs for Voice of Turkey and participated as a ney musician in numerous televised music productions broadcast by TRT.

Beyond performance, Hondaroglu has also gained attention for her academic work exploring the integration of the ney into modern orchestral arrangements, combining traditional Turkish musical heritage with contemporary artistic approaches.

As part of her Cairo visit, the artist also performed during celebrations marking Atatürk Memorial Day, Youth and Sports Day at the Embassy of Turkey in Cairo on May 19.

Her performances offered audiences an opportunity to experience the emotional depth of Turkish traditional music while reflecting the strong cultural ties linking Turkey and Egypt.

Hondaroglu said the visit marked her first trip to Cairo despite previously performing in several Arab countries. She described the Egyptian capital as unique, noting that she has long been interested in Egyptian culture and has conducted research related to it.

She also revealed that she has been studying Arabic for years, with particular focus on the Egyptian dialect, and added that part of her family origins traces back to Egypt.

During her stay, Hondaroglu visited the Grand Egyptian Museum, the pyramids, and Khan El Khalili market, saying she was especially impressed by the historic atmosphere of El Fishawy Cafe.

She concluded by describing Cairo as a city where history, music, and culture come together in a unique way, expressing hope to visit Egypt again in the future.