Applications are now open for The Young Guru Academy Global Servants Leaders Program. Initiated in 2007, the program is a 10-day cultural program open to all university students, NGO professionals and volunteers with an aim to introduce Istanbul and Turkish history and culture. The program includes visits to historical and cultural sites, tours of Istanbul, exposure to Turkish arts, music and dance, and visit to YGA’s leadership camp in Saklikoy. Upon returning, program participants are expected to promote Turkish culture at their university or where they work, or volunteer with one of the program’s sponsoring organizations in the U.S.

The American Turkish Society will sponsor two participants' roundtrip airfare from New York.

The American Turkish Society’s Education Committee is pleased to support the Ataturk School through a benefit piano recital presented by the Turkish Women’s League of America on Wednesday. We hope that you will be able to attend.

The American Turkish Society is pleased to support the following event in celebration of International Women's Day.

Please RSVP to info@americanturkishsociety.org by noon, Thursday, February 25. Space is limited; RSVPs will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations Invites you to a Parallel Event within the Sidelines of the 54th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

A PANEL MEETING ON A SUCCESS STORY FROM TURKEY: SNOWDROPS

“Providing Equal Opportunities For Underprivileged Girls Since 2000”

ON MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2010 FROM 1:15 TO 2:30 P.M. AT THE UNITED NATIONS NEW BUILDING CONFERENCE ROOM 7 / TNLB

FOLLOWED BY A PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION ON “SNOWDROPS” AND A RECEPTION

ON MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2010 AT 6:15 PM AT THE TURKISH CENTER 821 UN Plaza, 10017 NY (Corner of 1st Avenue and 46th street)

For NGO and Civil Society representatives, entry passes to the panel venue at the UN, will be provided by the Turkish Mission. For further information please contact Ms. Burcu Erdogdu or Mr. Mustafa Yıldırım at Turkish Mission to UN, 212-949 01 50


Please see the document attached below for additional information about Snowdrops/Kardelenler and for the full program of the event.

We invite you to apply for the sixth year of the School of Visual Arts New York Summer Residency Program:

Painting and Mixed Media
June 1 - July 2, 2010

For application procedures and criteria please visit www.moonandstarsproject.org

Application Deadline April 19, 2010

We invite you to become our fan on Facebook, join our group on LinkedIn, follow us on Twitter, or join our Mailing List.

Launched by The American Turkish Society in memory of Arif Mardin (1932-2006), world-renowned producer/arranger and vice chairman of the organization for many years, the Arif Mardin Music Fellowship aims to further the education of promising musicians from Turkey and give them a chance to study in the United States. The program is conducted in partnership with Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, where Mardin’s successful music career began as the first recipient of the Quincy Jones Scholarship.

The Arif Mardin Music Fellowship funds one student to attend the Five-Week Summer Performance Program at Berklee College of Music. The fellowship covers all program expenses, plus a stipend of $500. Consideration for the fellowship is based on merit and potential to benefit from the program in current or future music career. In 2009, the third Arif Mardin Music Fellowship was awarded to Erol Balci, a talented bass guitar player from Izmir, Turkey.

The Five-Week Summer Performance Program, now in its 22nd year, is the largest, most comprehensive summer music program available–anywhere. Every year, roughly 900 participants from across the U.S. and 70 different countries share this unique summer experience–all instruments, all contemporary styles, all levels of musical ability. The Five-Week Program, with its range of study options, world-class instructors, and state-of-the-art facilities, is a summer program that could only be offered at Berklee.

At the Five-Week Summer Performance Program, you will be immersed in all aspects of performance. Your classes, workshops, and rehearsals will focus on this important side of your musicianship. You will play in ensembles, develop improvisational and reading skills, improve your technique in weekly private lessons, and enjoy lectures/demonstrations by well-known faculty and visiting artists.

The application process:

1. Individuals of Turkish descent or nationality, over the age of 15, with a minimum of six months experience playing their instrument (singing), are eligible to apply. (Please note that preference will be given to applicants 18 years of age and younger.)

2. Please complete the following materials and submit via mail, fax or email by April 15, 2010 to:

Office of Special Programs
Berklee College of Music
1140 Boylston Street, MS-155
Boston, MA 02215-3693

Telephone: 617.747.2245
Fax: 617.262.5419
Email: summer@berklee.edu

• Standard application: http://www.berklee.edu/summer/fiveweeksummer/when-do-apply.php
• MP3 recording/link
• A 500-word statement in English outlining your interest in the program and how you expect your music career to benefit from it. Please include information on distinctions in your chosen music field, such as concert performances, awards, degrees, etc.

The fellowship recipient will be chosen by Berklee College of Music and notified within six weeks for international applicants by mail.

The American Turkish Society's Education Program is pleased to announce the availability of Curriculum Development Grants in 2010.

Curriculum Development Grants of The American Turkish Society offer funds to elementary and secondary school teachers in New York City and the tri-state area to develop innovative curricula, projects and other classroom activities about Turkey. The program aims to enhance the teachers’ and their students’ knowledge and understanding of Turkey, as well as to develop a repository of effective practices to teach about the country.

Grants will cover the costs of research, materials, speakers, and other costs incurred by the school or the teacher. The amount of grants will range from $250 to $2,500, depending on the scope of the project, availability of total funds, and the number of projects selected through a competitive process. The American Turkish Society encourages all applicants to identify additional sources of funding where possible.

Once selected, the grantees will be free to develop their proposed projects without editorial input from The Society. However, they will participate in follow-up activities for evaluation purposes and will be asked to share any teaching plans, materials and activities with The American Turkish Society for future dissemination.

Please submit proposals including:

1) A 2-page summary with project description, including tools, materials, and methods to be used; objectives and anticipated impact; and the teacher's relevant qualifications.

2) Project budget with detailed breakdown of costs and grant amount requested

3) CV of teacher

4) Letter of support from school

Interested parties may send proposals to The American Turkish Society at info@americanturkishsociety.org or 3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

The American Turkish Society is proud to announce that the 2009-2010 Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to two Turkish students this fall: Cagdas Ozkan and Burak Ozdemir. The scholarship, launched by The American Turkish Society in memory of the late Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records and long-time chairman of The Society, supports talented musicians of Turkish descent in their studies at The Julliard School in New York City.

New to Juilliard, Cagdas Ozkan has just begun studies towards a Master’s Degree in collaborative piano with Jonathan Feldman. Born in 1985 in Bulgaria and a citizen of Turkey, Cagdas received most of his music training in Turkey. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Bilkent University.

Awarded the Ertegun scholarship for a second time is bassoonist Burak Ozdemir. Burak was born in Istanbul in 1983. He received a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in piano and bassoon from Istanbul University Conservatory and an Master’s from the University of Arts in Berlin. His experience includes serving as a substitute in the Istanbul State Symphony and Philharmonic, and he was a member of the Istanbul Opera and Ballet Orchestra. Before coming to Juilliard, Burak studied the early forerunners of the bassoon and their repertoire, and is now participating in Julliard’s new program in historic performance. Currently, he is an artist diploma student of Frank Morelli.

The scholarship recipients are selected by The Juilliard School. Only the students accepted to Juilliard are eligible for consideration. For information on applying to Juilliard, please visit the School’s website at www.juilliard.edu.

Members and friends wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Scholarship fund or find out more about the education and arts & culture programs of The American Turkish Society, may contact Selen Ucak, Executive Director, at 212.583.7614 or selen.ucak@americanturkishsociety.org. For more information on the American Turkish Society, please visit www.americanturkishsociety.org

The American Turkish Society is proud to support

OCTET: SELECTED WORK FROM THE SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS
August 12 — October 4, 2009
Suna and İnan Kiraç Foundation Pera Museum Istanbul, Turkey

“Octet: Selected Work from the School of Visual Arts” is an exhibition of work by faculty, alumni and students from the BFA Fine Arts Department at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). Organized by SVA and curated by Department Chair Suzanne Anker and faculty member Peter Hristoff, “Octet” includes approximately 100 works by over 60 artists, offering a wide-ranging survey of current trends and issues in contemporary art. The exhibition will be on view at the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Pera Museum in Istanbul, Turkey from August 12 – October 4, 2009. Following the presentation in Istanbul, “Octet: Selected Work from the School of Visual Arts” will be on view in New York City at SVA’s Visual Arts Gallery from November 24 — December 23, 2009.

The Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Pera Museum and the Visual Arts Gallery presentations of "Octet" have been supported by the following institutions: the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in New York, The American Turkish Society, the Moon and Stars Project and the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul.

For further details about the exhibition, including artist list, please see the press release below.

Media Contact: For more information, please contact Keri Murawski at 212.592.2164 or e-mail kmurawski@sva.edu.

The American Turkish Society is hiring for Program Coordinator and Administrative Assistant positions.

Please see job descriptions and requirements below and apply to info@americanturkishsociety.org, preferably by July 20, 2009.

The American Turkish Society’s third Arif Mardin Music Fellowship has been awarded to Erol Balci, a 23-year-old bass guitar player from Izmir, Turkey. Erol will be attending the Five-Week Summer Performance Program at Berklee College of Music on July 11 - August 14, 2009.

For more information about Erol and his music, you can visit his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/ebugrabalci.

The Arif Mardin Music Fellowship, established by The Society in memory of Arif Mardin (1932-2006), a world-renowned producer/arranger and long-time Vice Chairman of the organization, provides promising musicians of Turkish descent exposure to the field in the United States. For more information about the Five-Week Summer Performance Program, please visit

At
Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall
881 Seventh Avenue
(Corner of 57th Street)
New York, NY 10019

May 30, 2009
8:30 pm

Featuring
Fatima Ayazlar, Mezzo Soprano
Emir Işık, Tenor
Shane Schag, Piano

Program

Liederkreis Op. 39 by Robert Schumann
&
Works by G. Puccini, F. Cilea, G. Bizet, F. Lehar

Admission : $25 Adults/ $20 Students & Moon and Stars Project members

Biographies

Fatima Ayazlar has just completed her studies at Brooklyn College of Music under Patricia McCaffrey. She attended the Royal Academy of Music in England -- selected for their program as one of 5 singers from around the world. She made her American debut singing the role of Suzuki in the Connecticut Grand Opera's production of Madame Butterfly in 2007. Also in that year, she performed as Charlotte in Brooklyn College's production of Werther, also singing the role of Agusta Tabor in The Ballad of Baby Doe at the same venue. She made her Carnegie Hall debut as a finalist in the competition of the Oratorio Society of New York, where she was selected as the audience favorite. Fatima was invited to participate in Master Classes of the legendary Turkish soprano, Leyla Gencer, and the Italian Divas Katia Ricciarelli and Renata Scotto.

Emir Işık earned his Master of Music degree from the renowned Manhattan School of Music in 2005. A baritone then, he has performed in Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte as Guglielmo and as Papageno in Die Zauberflote, as Mr. Gedge in Britten's Albert Herring, as Yamadori in Puccini's Madama Butterfly and as Falke in Strauss' Fledermaus as well as in numerous recitals. Being a zwischenfach, Mr. Işık has made a shift and gradually got in the challenging lyric tenor repertoire under the tutelage of W. Stephen Smith of Juilliard. As a tenor, he sang Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte in the summer of 2008 in Weimar, Germany. His upcoming engagement is to sing Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly in Burgas, Bulgaria in fall 2009. All his music education and this recital is partially sponsored by the PAK Family.

Shane Schag, a native of Ohio, has performed in recitals both as soloist and ensemble performer throughout the United States and Europe, including a concerto performance with the Ashland Symphony Orchestra. He has won several awards and scholarships including the Gwendolyn Koldofsky Memorial Award, which was given to "a musician who demonstrated outstanding professionalism in collaborative piano." He has worked in the capacity of vocal coach for Centro Studi Italiani Opera Festival, and as an assistant conductor for the Gotham Chamber Opera. In 2007, Mr. Schag made his debut at Weill Recital Hall (Carnegie Hall). Now he serves as staff pianist for the Lotte Lenya Competition in Rochester, New York, and Carnegie Hall's Musical Explorers concert series. Also, he has been appointed Musical Director of the revue, "And the World Goes Round," at the Manhattan School of Music, and the one-woman show, "Songs My Mother Never Taught Me," by Deborah Karpel. Recently, Mr. Schag appeared on PBS SundayArts in a showcase for rising, young opera singers. In addition to his concert appearances, he serves on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music, and Operaworks in Los Angeles.

For tickets please call (212) 229-1207 or go to http://www.carnegiehall.org/article/box_office/events/evt_13446.html?selecteddate=05302009.
For additional information please call (212) 247-7800 or visit www.carnegiehall.org

Cast & Credits
Primary Cast: Tsilla Chelton, Derya Alabora, Onur Unsal, Ovul Avkiran, Osman Sonant, Tayfun Bademsoy
Director: Yesim Ustaoglu
Screenwriter: Yesim Ustaoglu, Sema Kaygusuz
Producer: Yesim Ustaoglu, Muhammet Cakiral, Serkan Cakarer, Behrooz Hashemian, Setareh Farsi, Natacha Devillers, Catherine Burniaux, Michael Weber, Tobias Pausinger

Program Notes
The latest from award-winning Turkish master Yesim Ustaoglu (Journey to the Sun) is a gorgeous, expertly developed cross-generational dramedy. Three adult siblings—Nesrin, Güzin, and Mehmet—lead modern, neurotic, and preoccupied lives in Istanbul. But when their aging mother Nusret starts showing signs of dementia, the dysfunctional children must navigate a minefield of unresolved issues to care for her. They take the aging matriarch (90-year-old French actress Tsilla Chelton) away from her home on the Black Sea—for her own good, they think—but hectic Istanbul is the last place Nusret would like to be. In fact, her final wish is to be left alone in the mountains surrounding her home.

The unlikeliest candidate for the Nusret's final companion is her aloof and introspective grandson Murat. He mysteriously understands her desires, and in return she allows him to guide her back to her serene village, with its lush and breathtaking views. A tale primarily exploring modernity versus tradition, the need for stuff versus the need for nature, Pandora's Box is a thoughtful, perfectly paced addition to Ustaoglu's impressive repertoire of films. For her poignant, career-capping performance, Chelton was named best actress at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, where the film also won top prize.

Yesim Ustaoglu made several award-winning shorts in Turkey before making her feature debut with 1994's The Track. She received international recognition for her 1999 film Journey to the Sun, which received the Blue Angel Award for best European film and the Peace Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. The moving story of a courageous friendship undaunted by political cruelty swept the Istanbul International Film Festival by winning best film, best director, the FIPRESCI prize, and the Audience Award. Her follow-up Waiting for the Clouds was awarded the Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Award and the DAAD scholarship.

Screenings
Fri, Apr 24, 5:30PM
AMC Village VII 2

Sun, Apr 26, 10:15PM
AMC Village VII 7

Mon, Apr 27, 10:30PM
AMC Village VII 5

Launched by The American Turkish Society in memory of Arif Mardin (1932-2006), world-renowned producer/arranger and vice chairman of the organization for many years, the Arif Mardin Music Fellowship aims to further the education of promising musicians from Turkey and give them a chance to study in the United States. The program is conducted in partnership with Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, where Mardin’s successful music career began as the first recipient of the Quincy Jones Scholarship.

The Arif Mardin Music Fellowship funds one student to attend the Five-Week Summer Performance Program at Berklee College of Music. The fellowship covers all program expenses, plus a stipend of $500. Consideration for the fellowship is based on merit and potential to benefit from the program in current or future music career.

The first Arif Mardin Fellow was pianist and vocalist Sirma Munyar in 2007. In 2008, the fellowship was awarded to Canberk Kargi, a talented seventeen-year-old drummer from Canakkale, Turkey.

The Five-Week Summer Performance Program, now in its 21st year, is the largest, most comprehensive summer music program available–anywhere. Every year, roughly 900 participants from across the U.S. and 50 different countries share this unique summer experience–all instruments, all contemporary styles, all levels of musical ability. The Five-Week Program, with its range of study options, world-class instructors, and state-of-the-art facilities, is a summer program that could only be offered at Berklee.

At the Five-Week Summer Performance Program, you will be immersed in all aspects of performance. Your classes, workshops, and rehearsals will focus on this important side of your musicianship. You will play in ensembles, develop improvisational and reading skills, improve your technique in weekly private lessons, and enjoy lectures/demonstrations by well-known faculty and visiting artists.

The application process:

1. Individuals of Turkish descent or nationality, over the age of 15, with a minimum of six months experience playing their instrument (singing), are eligible to apply. (Please note that preference will be given to applicants 18 years of age and younger.)
2. Please complete the following materials and submit via mail, fax or email by April 15, 2009 to:

Office of Special Programs
Berklee College of Music
1140 Boylston Street, MS-155
Boston, MA 02215-3693

Telephone: 617.747.2245
Fax: 617.262.5419
Email: summer@berklee.edu

• Standard application: http://www.berklee.edu/summer/fiveweeksummer/when-do-apply.php
• MP3 recording/link
• A 500-word statement in English outlining your interest in the program and how you expect your music career to benefit from it. Please include information on distinctions in your chosen music field, such as concert performances, awards, degrees, etc.

The fellowship recipient will be chosen by Berklee College of Music and notified within six weeks for international applicants by mail.

PAINTING AND MIXED MEDIA
June 1 - July 2, 2009

This internationally renowned program offers artists an opportunity to work intensively in a private studio, receive individual critiques from faculty, and attend weekly lectures given by guest artists, critics, and gallery directors.

The selected participant has exclusive use of a small studio located in School of Visual Arts’ Chelsea Building. Faculty will visit the studios Mondays through Thursdays. Exposure to the New York art world complements this on-site residency program. The program culminates in an open studio exhibition, which enables the participants to present their work to the public.

The program is sponsored by the Moon and Stars Project, The American Turkish Society and School of Visual Arts.

For application procedure and criteria please click here.

Application Deadline April 3, 2009

For more information on the program sponsors:

www.sva.edu/residency
www.moonandstarsproject.org

The American Turkish Society is proud to announce the arrival of Orhan Dolapci and Gonca Canyurt, teachers from Turkey and this year’s The American Turkish Society – AFS Global Educators.

The AFS Global Educators Program brings professional educators from around the world into K-12 classrooms throughout the United States. This program provides an excellent opportunity for schools that have an interest in internationalizing their curriculums and bringing the world into their classrooms. Through the program, participating teachers expand their knowledge of other cultures and educational systems while sharing information about their own countries and experiences with their host school communities. This exchange continues when the visiting teachers return to their home countries and share their experiences abroad with their students and colleagues. As a part of its education mission, The American Turkish Society has been in partnership with AFS-USA and supporting the Global Educators Program since 2002.

Orhan Dolapci, from Istanbul, Turkey, has been teaching English to primary school students and adult English language learners. He received his B.A. in Applied Linguistics from Marmara University and his M.A. in Educational Management and Supervision from Yeditepe University. Orhan is taking a semester sabbatical from his current position T.E.V. Zahide Zehra Garring State Primary School to participate in the AFS Global Educators Program. During the program, Orhan would like to develop his English skills and expand on his professional knowledge as well as share Turkish culture with his host school and community. Orhan will be teaching at Lanier Middle School in Houston, TX.

Gonca Canyurt has a strong background in mathematics and pedagogy. She has taught arithmetic, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and calculus at the high school level. She uses presentations, discovery-learning, problem-solving, and group work methods to engage her students. She also emphasizes the practical uses of math to make the subject relevant, such as the importance of calculations in building bridges or buildings. Gonca has also written questions for exams and study guides. She hopes to provide her host school and community with important insights into the Turkish culture and contribute innovative techniques to the mathematics curriculum. Visiting America has been one of Gonca’s greatest dreams and she hopes to leave with improved language skills and new teaching strategies. Gonca will be teaching at Fall River High School in Fall River, WI.

AFS is a world leader in intercultural learning and offers international exchange programs for its students and educators. Operating in more than 50 countries as independent, non-profit organizations, each AFS International partner has a volunteer base, a professionally staffed office, and a board of directors. AFS has been exchanging young people and educators throughout the world for more than 60 years.

Founded in 1949, The American Turkish Society is America’s oldest not-for profit organization seeking to enhance economic, political, and cultural ties between Turkey and the United States. The Society achieves its mission by hosting educational events that bring together government and business leaders, journalists, artists and scholars covering a spectrum of fields. It also initiates and sponsors a variety of education and arts & culture programs, providing fellowships, grants, and other opportunities for educational and cultural exchange between the two countries. The American Turkish Society is a 501(c) 3 charitable organization. Members and friends wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution to American Turkish Society – AFS Global Educators program or to find out more about the The Society’s other initiatives may contact Selen Ucak, Executive Director, at 212.583.7614 or selen.ucak@americanturkishsociety.org.

Jeffrey J. Steiner, Member of the Board of Directors of The American Turkish Society, Passed Away Jeffrey J. Steiner, long-time Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Fairchild Corporation died on Saturday, November 1, at the age of 71. Mr. Steiner led the company from 1985 through September of this year.

Jeffrey Steiner was born on April 3, 1937 in Vienna, Austria. He grew up in Istanbul during World War II, after his family fled Hitler’s advance into Vienna. His business training began there, where his father was leading manufacturer in Turkey’s textile industry. After studying textiles at Britain’s Bradford Institute of Technology, he went to the United States and in 1958 he took a job at Texas Instruments. By the time he left after ten years, he had become head of international manufacturing. Mr. Steiner then moved to Paris and started a small textile business and later developed Cedac S.A., an engineering business that manufactured turnkey factories in the Middle East. Returning back to the United States in the 1980s, he made a series of successful investments, finally acquiring Fairchild, an aerospace company, in 1989.

Jeffrey Steiner was a savvy business leader and a generous philanthropist. He was a leader and contributor in the Jewish community. He was also passionate about Turkey and U.S.-Turkish relations and served on the board of directors of The American Turkish Society for many years. He was a Vice Chairman of The Society, together with Mr. Arif Mardin and Ms. Berrin Tekiner, during the Chairmanship of Ahmet Ertegun.

The American Turkish Society remembers Mr. Steiner’s support and service to the organization with gratitude and extends its sincerest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues at The Fairchild Corporation.

The American Turkish Society is proud to announce that the 2008-2009 Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to two Turkish students this fall, Kazim Cokogullu and Burak Ozdemir. The scholarship, launched by The American Turkish Society last year in memory of the late Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records and long-time chairman of The Society, supports talented musicians of Turkish descent in their studies at The Julliard School in New York City.

Kazim Cokogullu was born in Izmir in 1984 and began guitar studies at age thirteen. A student of Kagan Korad, he received his bachelor’s degree with honors from Bilkent University and won prizes in several international competitions. He has had additional study with Marco Socias, Carlo Domeniconi, Roland Dyens and Dale Kavanagh. Last season Kazim was a soloist in the Mauro Giuliani Guitar Concerto(Op.30) with the Anatolian University Orchestra was named a “Star of the Future” by the Andante magazine. Later this month he will be the soloist with the Cukurova State Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. At Juilliard, he is a graduate diploma student of Sharon Isbin.

Bassoonist Burak Ozdemir was born in Istanbul in 1983. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Istanbul University Conservatory and an additional degree from the University of Arts in Berlin. His experience includes serving as a substitute in the Istanbul State Symphony and Philharmonic, and he was a member of the Istanbul Opera and Ballet Orchestra. Before coming to Juilliard, Burak studied in the early forerunners of the bassoon and their repertoire, and looks forward to participating in Julliard’s new program in historic performance. Currently, he is an artist diploma student of Frank Morelli.

As the first recipients of the Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Scholarship, these two talented musicians fulfill the program’s mission in the best way possible, as they further their education at The Julliard School while contributing to greater cultural understanding between the United States and Turkey. The American Turkish Society hopes that the scholarship will continue Mr. Ertegun’s legacy of promoting talented artists and wishes Mr. Cokogullu and Mr. Ozdemir much success in their studies and future careers.

The scholarship recipients are selected by The Juilliard School. Only the students accepted to Juilliard are eligible for consideration. For information on applying to Juilliard, please visit the School’s Web site at www.juilliard.edu. Members and friends wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Scholarship fund or find out more about the education and arts & culture programs of The American Turkish Society, may contact Selen Ucak, Executive Director, at 212.583.7614 or selen.ucak@americanturkishsociety.org. For more information on the American Turkish Society, please visit www.americanturkishsociety.org

The American Turkish Society is proud to support the 10th Annual New York Turkish Film Festival, October 3 –11, 2008.

The New York Turkish Film Festival, now celebrating its tenth year, is a prestigious film festival that fosters greater cultural exchange between Turkey and the United States through presentation of groundbreaking cinema in the heart of New York City.

The American Turkish Society congratulates renowned cardiac surgeon and member of its Board of Directors, Mehmet C. Oz, MD on his selection as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2008. In addition, Dr. Oz was the recipient of 2008 Ellis Island Medal of Honor this year.

For both awards, Dr. Oz was honored for his expertise and achievements in his profession, as well as his contributions to the society at large through his influence, philanthropic activities and community engagement. “The American Turkish Society and the Turkish-American community are proud of Dr. Oz’s achievements,” remarked Murat Koprulu, Chairman of The American Turkish Society, “his dedication to teaching all of us to live healthier lives and to promoting better healthcare globally is worthy of the highest praise and admiration.”

Dr. Oz has been serving on the Board of Directors of The American Turkish Society since 2002, and is a strong supporter of the organization which works to strengthen the bonds between the U.S. and Turkey. He has been a speaker at The Society on several occasions and contributed to the organization’s efforts and fundraising in the aftermath of the devastating 1999 earthquake near Istanbul, Turkey. In addition, The Society and Dr. Oz have collaborated on a fellowship program for young medical students from Turkey.

Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People honors the leaders, pioneers, scientists, artists, and business titans that have the power to impact society in significant ways. In the magazine, Dr. Oz is described as “a man of extraordinary compassion and strength, remarkably suited both to caring for his own patients and to carrying a message of health to a larger world.”

The Ellis Island Medals of Honor have been given each year since 1986 to American citizens of diverse origins for their outstanding contributions to their communities, their nation and the world. Past Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients include six Presidents of the United States, Nobel Prize winners, athletes, leaders of industry, artists and others whose work has made a lasting impact on humanity.

Dr. Oz is Vice-Chair and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University. He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital. His research interests include heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complementary medicine and health care policy. He has authored over 400 original publications, book chapters, and medical books and has received several patents. He performs 250 heart operations annually. Dr. Oz was born June 11, 1960 in Cleveland, Ohio and received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University (1982) and obtained a joint MD and MBA (1986) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Wharton Business School. Dr. Oz is the Health Expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He is chief medical consultant to Discovery Communications and his “Transplant!” series won both a Freddie and a Silver Telly award. He is a frequent guest on various other TV shows, including Good Morning America, the Charlie Rose show and evening news broadcasts, and consulted on several feature films. Dr. Oz authored five NY Times Best Sellers including “You: The Owner’s Manual”, “You: The Smart Patient”, “YOU: On a Diet”, “YOU: Staying Young” as well as the award winning “Healing from the Heart”. He has a regular column in Esquire magazine.

The American Turkish Society’s second Arif Mardin Music Fellowship has been awarded to Canberk Kargi, a seventeen-year-old drummer from Canakkale, Turkey. The Fellowship, established by The Society in memory of Arif Mardin (1932-2006), a world-renowned producer/arranger and long-time Vice Chairman of the organization, provides promising musicians of Turkish descent exposure to the field in the United States. Canberk Kargi will be attending the Five-Week Summer Performance Program at Berklee College of Music on July 12 – August 15, 2008 .