News Posts List

 The American Turkish Society Launches Scholarship Fund in Memory of Late Chairman

New York, NY– December 13, 2007– In memory of Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records and long-time, cherished chairman of The American Turkish Society, who passed away a year ago tomorrow, on December 14, 2006, The American Turkish Society has launched a new scholarship fund in music. The Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Scholarship will support deserving students of Turkish descent pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies in music. In the 2008-2009 academic year, the fund will provide tuition support to a student attending The Juilliard School in New York City.

One of the seminal figures in the history of popular music, Ahmet Ertegun was also a prominent philanthropist dedicated to enhancing relations and cultural understanding between the United States and  his native country, Turkey. As the Chairman of The American Turkish Society, he worked relentlessly to introduce Americans to Turkey and to garner support for the country. Furthermore, he strongly encouraged the Society’s education and arts and culture programs to increase dialogue between the two countries. “We hope that a scholarship carrying Mr. Ertegun’s name will be a source of inspiration for Turkish and Turkish-American artists,” said Murat Koprulu, Chairman of the Society, “preparing artists, scholars and leaders of Turkish descent for global achievement - following in the footsteps of Mr. Ertegun - is critical to our mission of promoting a greater understanding of Turkey.” The American Turkish Society also supports the Arif Mardin Music Fellowship at Berklee College of Music in memory of the organization’s late Vice Chairman and renowned composer and arranger Arif Mardin, who also passed away in 2006. Individuals wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Scholarship fund or other 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

About Ahmet Ertegun:

Born in Istanbul in 1923, Ahmet Ertegun moved to the United States at the age of 12 when his father, renowned Turkish diplomat Mehmet Munir Ertegun, became the Turkish ambassador to the United States . Preparing for a potential diplomatic career, he majored in classical philosophy at St. John’sCollege and started his graduate work at GeorgetownUniversity . However, his long-standing love for music led to a luminous career in that industry instead.   Since   founding Atlantic Records in 1947,   he discovered, signed, popularized, and/or produced Ray Charles, Bobby Darin, Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, Bette Midler, Booker T. and the MGs, Cream, the Bee Gees, Led Zeppelin, John Coltrane, Roberta Flack, the Allman Brothers, Genesis, Stevie Nicks, Buffalo Springfield, the Blues Brothers, Tori Amos, and Phil Collins, among others.   He was a founder of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, to which he was inducted in 1987. He was presented with an honorary doctorate in music from the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1991, a Trustees Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences in 1993, and the "Living Legend" award by the United States Library of Congress in 2000. In addition to his endeavors at The American Turkish Society, Ertegun funded Turkish studies departments at Princeton and Georgetown universities and was a member of the Board of Directors of Jazz at LincolnCenter. He received over 40 awards in his lifetime for his civic and philanthropic successes.  He was also an avid collector of modern art and an avid soccer fan.   

About The American Turkish Society:

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 bringing together leaders in government, including Prime Ministers, Ministers of State and Ambassadors, as well as business leaders, journalists, 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. For more information, please visit The American Turkish Society’s website at www.americanturkishsociety.org

About The JuilliardSchool:

The JuilliardSchool established this country’s standard for education in the performing arts, beginning with music in 1905. In 1951, its Dance Division was established, with combined training in contemporary and ballet technique. Juilliard became part of LincolnCenter in 1968, and added a four-year Drama program. In 2001, Juilliard broke new ground with the addition of its first Jazz Program. More than 800 young artists, from 47 states and 50 foreign countries, attend Juilliard; among its celebrated alumni in all fields are Pina Bausch, Van Cliburn, James Conlon, Miles Davis, Renée Fleming, Philip Glass, Kevin Kline, James Levine, Laura Linney, ,Patti LuPone, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Itzhak Perlman, Leontyne Price, Sara Ramirez, Steve Reich, Leonard Slatkin, Kevin Spacey, Paul Taylor, Robin Williams, and many others. For more information, visit Juilliard’s web site at www.juilliard.edu. 

###

Members of the press wishing to learn more may contact Selen Ucak, Executive Director of The American Turkish Society, at 212-583-7614.