The Turkish Education Foundation (TEV), which continues its activities to ensure equal opportunities in education, brought together the TEV Turkey Virtuosos Chamber Orchestra consisting of TEV graduate scholarship holders and volunteers with art lovers for the first time on the occasion of its 57th anniversary. Led by violin virtuoso and MSGSU faculty member Özcan Ulucan, the orchestra, comprised of TEV graduate scholarship holders and volunteers, performed at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall on the evening of May 9th, Thursday.

Supporting students studying in the field of arts since its establishment, the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV), one of Turkey’s oldest foundations, brought together the TEV Turkey Virtuosos Chamber Orchestra consisting of graduate TEV scholarship holders and volunteers with art lovers for the first time to celebrate its 57th anniversary and emphasize the importance of its continuous support to the arts. The concert, held on the evening of May 9th, Thursday, at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall, was met with great interest from the audience.

Starting with opening speeches by TEV Board of Trustees Chairman Ömer Koç, TEV Board Chairman Mehmet Şükrü Tekbaş, and TEV General Manager Banu Taşkın, the special evening attended by TEV donors and scholarship holders featured distinguished guests such as Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Culture Inc. President Murat Abbas, Erol Evgin, and Süher Pekinel among the audience. The hosting duties for the night were undertaken by TEV graduate and Theater Director Merve Taşkan, while the orchestra, led by TEV scholarship holder and internationally renowned violin virtuoso, MSGSU Faculty Member Özcan Ulucan, performed a piece titled “Horonlar,” composed by Turkish composer and educator Prof. Dr. Ali Özkan Manav specifically for the TEV Turkey Virtuosos Chamber Orchestra, which was being performed for the first time, alongside select compositions.

As soloists of the concert, Chief Violinist Özcan Ulucan, who himself is a TEV graduate scholarship holder from abroad (London); Pianist and Pedagogue Birsen Ulucan, also a TEV graduate scholarship holder from within the country; Atilla Aldemir, Viola Group Leader of Leipzig MDR Symphony Orchestra and a domestic graduate scholarship holder; and Selen Aydoğan, an Exceptional Achievement Scholar and a young violinist, took the stage. Additionally, the following musicians were part of the orchestra: violinists Buse Aksel, Furkan Cicim, İmge Tilif, Asaf Öksüz, Furkan Ayhan, and Rüzgâr Turgay; violists Emir Kemancı and Bengi Bahar Işkıncı; cellists Nil Kocamangil and Seren Karabey; double bassist Deniz Akgün; and harpsichordist Ayşe Nil Ülgener, making a total of 16 members in the orchestra.

“We are excited to be together at the TEV Turkey Virtuosos Chamber Orchestra concert.”

TEV Board of Trustees Chairman Ömer Koç said the following in his opening speech: “The Turkish Education Foundation, one of the leading civil society organizations in our country, is celebrating its 57th anniversary. Looking back, we observe with great pride and satisfaction how much progress we have made in our educational mobilization aimed at contributing to equal opportunities in education. Our Foundation, always proud to support the dreams of young talents, has contributed to the education of exceptionally talented musicians over the years by providing art scholarships, enabling them to continue their education. And today, we are excited to be together at our TEV Turkey Virtuosos Chamber Orchestra concert with soloists and musicians who have become the brightest stars of their generation. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the artists who have contributed to this evening and to our foundation.”

“We need more talk about art.”

Expressing his emotions, TEV Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Mehmet Şükrü Tekbaş, who stated that his biggest dream was to establish a Chamber Orchestra composed of TEV graduate scholarship holders, said the following: “Today, we have come together to celebrate the 57th anniversary of the Turkish Education Foundation and our enduring support for the arts. This concert, which holds a special significance for the TEV Family, fills me with great excitement as it marks the first time we are presenting the Chamber Orchestra comprised of TEV graduates in the field of arts, along with our volunteer musicians and soloists. This evening holds a different meaning for me personally. Since becoming a part of the TEV Family, my greatest dream has been to establish a large orchestra consisting of TEV art graduates. Today, thanks to my TEV friends, our talented graduate artists, and volunteer musicians, I am proud to see this dream come true. As the initiator of this project and the Chairman of the TEV Board, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to everyone who has contributed to making my dream a reality and, in doing so, contributed to the arts.”

“Up to this day, we have provided over 11,000 scholarships to students studying in the field of arts.”

Referring to the value the foundation places on art, TEV General Manager Banu Taşkın stated, “Since its establishment, the Turkish Education Foundation, having awarded nearly 300,000 scholarships, has facilitated the realization of the dreams of visionary individuals by providing over 11,000 scholarships in the field of arts. As the Foundation of Turkey, TEV supports the education of thousands of young people today through exceptional achievement scholarships, overseas scholarships, undergraduate and vocational school scholarships, as well as disaster scholarships. In addition to scholarships, we are increasing the number of our schools and female student dormitories, particularly in disaster areas, day by day.”

Türk Eğitim Vakfı (TEV) was established on May 4, 1967, under the leadership of the late Vehbi Koç, by 205 Turkish intellectuals dedicated to education. Supporting successful young people with limited financial means through scholarship assistance, TEV has contributed to Turkey and humanity by supporting pioneering youths and the education system in which they will grow. From its establishment to the present day, TEV has provided over 280,000 scholarships within the country and more than 2,000 scholarships abroad. Supporting its contributions to education through the construction of 32 educational facilities, the Turkish Education Foundation also took over İnanç High School, established to provide education at the high school level to exceptionally talented and high-potential students in Turkey, in 2001. The school continues its educational activities under the name Türk Eğitim Vakfı İnanç Türkeş Özel Lisesi (TEVİTÖL). By opening student dormitories in Izmir, Trabzon, and Ankara, TEV expanded its scope of activities under the Turkish Education Foundation Student Dormitories Economic Enterprise.