“Çalgiya Izmir” was founded by three musicians, Cenk Bosnalı (vocal, percussion), Salih Nazım Peker (divane, kopuz, cura, vocal) and Salih Korkut Peker (cümbüş, efe divane, vocal), whose origins are the Balkans. The group, named “Čalgija”, which means “small band consisting of stringed instruments” in Macedonia and Bulgaria, aims to bring together the roots and the geographical region they live in.

The group has a historic foothold in using only stringed instruments and not including accordion, clarinet and any brass, which are the most popular instruments of the Balkans.

Çalgiya İzmir brings up to the stage traditional folk songs in Turkish, Bosnian, Macedonian and Bulgarian; from all Balkans, Rumeli and Aegean regions of Turkey with “divane” and “cümbüş” which are the “new representatives” of above-mentioned traditional stringed instruments and invites you to a journey of Izmir-Sarajevo where tradition and innovation stand side by side.