April 3 marks the 101st anniversary of the birth of Bilkent University’s beloved founder, Prof. İhsan Doğramacı. Each year, Bilkent celebrates Prof. Doğramacı’s birthday as Bilkent Day, honoring his memory with deepest respect and affection.
This year, Bilkent Day will include two main events: the Bilkent Day Conference and a celebratory concert by the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra.
The 2016 Bilkent Day Conference will take place on Sunday, April 3, at the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts.
The program will start at 2:00 p.m. with a presentation by Rector Abdullah Atalar on “The State of the University” and continue with a talk by Dr. Ignaz Bender, president of the International Conference on Higher Education, titled “Suggestions for Fostering ‘Peace on Earth.’” Following this, Dr. John Grabowski, Krieger-Mueller Professor of History at Case Western Reserve University, will discuss “İhsan Doğramacı and the History of an Idea.”
On the evening of April 3, the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra will perform a special concert under the baton of Gürer Aykal, with soloist Gülsin Onay (piano). The performance will take place in the Bilkent Concert Hall at 8 p.m., and the program will consist of the Concerto for Piano in A minor by Edvard Grieg, “Söyleşi” by Ferit Tüzün and “Dances of Galánta” by Zoltán Kodály.