![20161109_195344](https://www.sirinpancaroglu.com.tr/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20161109_195344-300x169.jpg)
I have never travelled as much as I did since late November. It started with a trip to Shiraz, Iran. I have been invited to the teach in Iran since last year. So every few months I am flying to Tehran, but this time I visited Shiraz. As a guest of my dear colleague Fattaneh Shahin I paid a visit to the tomb of one of the greatest poets of history.: Hafiz-, Shirazi. I taught talented young harpists, met their amazing families. Played with local musicians. I am in love with Iran ever since my first visit.
![20161204_205626](https://www.sirinpancaroglu.com.tr/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20161204_205626-300x169.jpg)
Then came a trip to Hungary, to Szeged where I served as a member of the jury of International Szeged Harp Competition. I made sure to pay a morning visit in Budapest before heading to Szeged. The competition featured an amazing level of talent to my opinion. Although a judge of the under 19 year-old category I was just amazed at how the technique of harp playing has evolved, with contestants coming from all around the world. It was lso a lovely occasion to meet with new and old colleagues. And I will not forget the playing I heard, not the sour cherry, apricot and apple strudels, which were out of this world.
![IMG-20161213-WA0026](https://www.sirinpancaroglu.com.tr/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG-20161213-WA0026-225x300.jpg)
I then went to France to accompany friends from Istanbul. I visited Camac Harpes in Paris who generously lent me a lever harp for a private concert in Valenciennes. This northern town is beautiful. A visit to the conservatory where I was greeted by Prof Martine Dompierre was very fructitious in establishing some new grounds of co-operation. Alain Degand from Valenciennes made sure our trip ran smoothly and I absolutely loved the guided visit to the library where I had the occasion to see one of the very first manuscripts of polyphony rendered by Jesuit priests. I then returned to Izmir to complete my next recording, the 12th. It is based on the tradition of Turkish baths. More coming on this…
![Mom](https://www.sirinpancaroglu.com.tr/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG-20161231-WA0009-225x300.jpg)
New year’s was spent with guests at home. A lovely moment my mother did not miss to engrave in our memories, a tea time birthday party for me. Thank you everyone.