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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The American Turkish Society
and Moon and Stars Project
305 E. 47th Street New York, NY 10017
www.americanturkishsociety.org
www.moonandstarsproject.org

New York, May 14, 2010 - The American Turkish Society and Moon and Stars Project presented a special benefit concert by Arto Tuncboyaciyan, featuring Yash-Ar, in New York last Saturday evening, May 8, at 8pm. The concert paid tribute to Hrant Dink, the Turkish-Armenian journalist and editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos newspaper, who was killed on January 19, 2007. Proceeds of the concert will go to The International Hrant Dink Foundation.

World renowned percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan and rock artist Yasar Kurt shared the stage of The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College with musicians from the Armenian Navy Band to perform Tuncboyaciyan’s timeless songs, as well as works from Yash-Ar’s debut album Against Hatred and Animosity (Nefrete Kine Karsi), which included a special song dedicated to the memory of Hrant Dink. The artists sang in Turkish and Armenian and gave messages of peace and tolerance in their remarks during the concert.

About 350 people attended the concert, which brought together members of the Turkish and Armenian communities in New York. Distinguished guests from the diplomatic corps, individual and corporate sponsors as well as various arts, philanthropy, and civil society organizations who have offered their support to the project were also in attendance.

Notwithstanding a troubled history and ongoing political, social and cultural hurdles to mutual understanding, the concert came at a time of renewed reconciliation efforts between the two countries. “Nothing I can say now can supersede the role of music in uniting communities,” remarked Binnaz Saktanber, Vice President of Moon and Stars Project before the concert. She offered special thanks to Arto Tuncboyaciyan for his guidance during the preparations for the concert.

The Chrest Foundation, Ramerica International, Spunk Foundation International, Turkish Airlines and Turkish Kitchen were sponsors of the concert and a number of individual donors offered additional support.

In order to maximize support for the International Hrant Dink Foundation, The American Turkish Society and Moon and Stars Project continue to seek individual and institutional supporters; tax-deductible contributions are accepted online at www.americanturkishsociety.org.

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The American Turkish Society, founded in 1949, is America's oldest not-for-profit organization seeking to enhance economic, political and cultural ties between the United States and Turkey. Moon and Stars Project highlights the best of Turkish arts and culture in the United States since 2002 and hosts the New York Turkish Film Festival.

The International Hrant Dink Foundation was founded in 2007 to carry on Hrant Dink’s legacy of creating a culture of dialogue, empathy and peace among the peoples of Turkey, Armenia and Europe. For more information, please visit www.hrantdink.org.

Contact: For more information, please contact Doga Kayalar at d.kayalar@americanturkishsociety.org or 212.583.7614.

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