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CATAMOTurkish-American Orchestra

About CATAMO

Celebrating the unity of Turkish and American cultures.

The California Turkish-American Orchestra performs international and Turkish music side by side, showcasing the artistic beauty of both musical languages.

Our Mission

  • Introduce Turkish music and culture with exceptional artistic excellence through symphonic and jazz orchestral forms in the United States.

  • Present Türkiye’s artistic depth to international audiences through Western symphonic music — a blend of mesmerizing Turkish melodies, ornaments, maqams and instrumental beauty.

  • Consolidate our international presence while delivering world-class artistic experiences and strengthening the ties between American and Turkish societies through captivating concerts and cultural events.

  • Celebrate the unity of Turkish and American cultures through collaborations with distinguished local and international artists.

  • Attract broad American and international audiences by performing international and Turkish music within the same concert.

  • Introduce Turkish modal and rhythmic structures within Western symphonic forms, incorporating traditional Turkish instruments.

Leadership

Board Members

Portrait of Ali Tolga Demirtaş

Ali Tolga Demirtaş

Music Director & Conductor

Born in Ankara, Ali Tolga discovered music in early childhood through the piano and oud at home. After first studying with his father, he won first place in the Ankara Child Chorus exam of TRT (Turkish public broadcasting) and graduated after five years of fundamental training, while simultaneously studying Classical Turkish Music theory, repertoire and the violin.

He began academic study at age nine and, by fifteen, could perform major works of the piano literature. By seventeen he had completed training in composition, orchestra and choir conducting, orchestration, harmony, theory and solfège, before turning to jazz with masters such as Yavuz Darıdere and Tuna Ötenel.

He studied Jazz Piano at CODARTS Rotterdam Conservatory, high-level harmony and composition with Aydın Esen, sound engineering at MIAM, and film scoring at UCLA. In 2010 he placed 3rd in the TBD-Halıcı 17th Computed Composition Contest.

He has worked on stage and in studio with world-renowned artists including Sezen Aksu, Ajda Pekkan, Ozan Doğulu, Kenan Doğulu, İskender Paydaş, Hüsnü Şenlendirici, Şevval Sam and many more. He composed and performed oud and violin on producer/DJ KSHMR’s album, and has released his contemporary solo jazz piano album "Moments." A virtuoso across violin, viola, cello, double bass, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, saxophone, flute, ney, oud, cümbüş, guitar, drums and percussion.

Portrait of Necmi Höke

Necmi Höke

Artistic Board Director

Born in 1976 in Denizli, Türkiye, Necmi Höke began piano lessons at age six and quickly showed a deep connection to music. He joined the Denizli Conservatory children’s choir at ten and studied qanun with master Halit Erzincanlı, performing his first concert as a qanun artist at fourteen.

Across a career spanning more than thirty-four years, Höke has performed in concerts, festivals, competitions, TV programs, music videos and recordings throughout Türkiye and abroad. He received training in note reading, solfège, theory and rhythm, primarily from Neşe Öztaş, and has served as accompanist, maestro and conductor across Turkish classical music, Turkish folk music and folk dance groups.

A mechanical engineer, husband and father of three, Höke moved to San Diego, California in 2019 and founded the San Diego Turkish Music Chorus in 2023, where he serves as artistic director and conductor — continuing to spread his passion for Turkish music and culture locally and internationally.

Help the music play on.

CATAMO is a project under AKM, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so your gift is tax-deductible. Every contribution helps us bring Turkish and American musical traditions to the stage.

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