Marking a first in Turkey, the 1st International Yorgo Bacanos Oud Festival of Istanbul was held within the scope of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture program with master Necati Çelik as Art Director-In-Chief. The festival hosted world-class oud masters from Turkey and other countries. Workshops, conferences and panels helped us see oud in a new light, while concerts by great oud masters created unforgettable musical feasts. Planning to make it an annual event, this year's festival was dedicated to Yorgo Bacanos who not only excelled in oud, but also inspired many oud masters to follow him by having created a unique schol in oud.