Rengim Gökmen began music at an early age under the supervision of her mother, opera artist Muazzez Gökmen. She completed her piano and composition studies at Ankara State Conservatory, which she entered at the age of 9, with unforgettable, cult figures of our music history such as Ferhunde Erkin, Nimet Karatekin, İlhan Baran and Ahmet Adnan Saygun.
In 1975, she was sent to Italy by the Turkish government to receive conducting education. She first graduated first from Rome Santa Cecilia Conservatory as a student of M.Pradella and P. Bellugi, then from Santa Cecilia Academy of Music and Siena Accademia Chigiana Orchestra Conducting specialization departments as a student of Franco Ferrara.
Meanwhile, she participated in various courses and seminars under the direction of O.Suitner in Austria, G.Hurst in England, and E. Downes in the Netherlands.
In 1980, she achieved great success by winning the international "Gino Marinuzzi" Orchestra Conducting Competition. To this day, she has conducted concerts and opera performances in almost all countries of Europe, the USA, Far East and South America.
Positions held: Ankara State Opera and Ballet General Music Director (1984-1989), State Opera and Ballet General Manager (two terms) (1992-1995, 2007-2014), Izmir State Symphony Orchestra Conductor (1991-2005), CRR Symphony Orchestra Art Consultancy and Conducting, Presidential Symphony Orchestra Conductor and Music Director (three terms) (2006-2011, 2012-2014, 2016-2020). She is currently a faculty member at Ankara Bilim University and continues her courses at Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory.
Structures, orchestras and projects she initiated as an administrator in the institutions she worked for and which are still ongoing: Mersin State Opera and Ballet Foundation (1992), Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival (1994), Modern Dance Company (Ankara) (1993), Samsun State Opera and Ballet Foundation (2008), Birim Dance Theater (Ankara), Istanbul International Ballet Competition (2008), Istanbul International Opera Festival (2010), Doğuş Children's Symphony Orchestra (2006-), Karşıyaka Chamber Orchestra (KODA) (2014).
Awards and decorations given to her: International "Gino Marinuzzi" Conducting Award (1980), Italian Government "Cavallerie" decoration (1988), TÜTAV Turkey's contribution to international promotion award (1991), Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism Best Conductor of the Year award (1995), State Artist award (1998), Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award (1999), Andante Classical Music Magazine Conductor of the Year and Music Institution Manager (2010), IKSV Honor Award (2019), SCAMV honor award (2022).
From 1980 to the present, in addition to more than 2000 concerts and performances she has performed with CSO, Izmir DSO, Karşıyaka Chamber Orchestra, Doğuş Children's Symphony Orchestra and other orchestras in almost all provinces of Turkey, she has also conducted countless concerts and performances with world-famous artists abroad.
Jury memberships in national and international competitions: National Eczacıbaşı composition competition IKSEV Izmir (Permanent), Kadıköy Municipality Composition Competition Istanbul (various years), Valentino Bucchi Composition Competition Rome (1996 and various years), F. Chopin Piano Competition Rome, European Union Conducting Competition Bulgaria 2019, Arthur Nikisch International Orchestra Conducting Competition (2021).
