ISTANBUL – Daily News with wires

Turkish folk music artist Mehmet Özbek has received this year’s Aydın Doğan Award, which is presented to an artist every year for contributions to Turkish culture, art, literature and science. The award ceremony was held Monday night at the Hilton Convention Center. Özbek took his award from Istanbul Gov. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu and the founder and honorary chairman of the Aydın Doğan Foundation, Aydın Doğan.

The 2011 Aydın Doğan Award, presented to artists for their contribution to Turkish culture, art, literature and science, has been to folk singer Mehmet Özbek. He received the award for concerts he performed in Turkey and abroad, works he composed and students he has trained throughout his academic life.

The 15th Aydın Doğan Award ceremony was held Monday at the Hilton Convention Center with the participation of many guests from Turkey’s art and business circles.

Aydın Doğan Foundation Executive Board Chair Candan Fetvacı said the Aydın Doğan Award was presented for the second time in the field of Turkish folk music, adding that Özbek received the award due to his contributions to Turkish folk music not only as a composer and researcher but also as a director and trainer.

Istanbul Gov. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu said Özbek was also one of the masters in the field of literature; he has Ph.D. in this field and produces lots of important works. “He has performed his songs not only in Turkey but also on five continents. We are proud of his songs.”

Özbek was deemed worthy of the award by a selective committee that included Yücel Paşmakçı, who received the same award in 2004, Melih Duygulu, Erdal Erzincan, Zafer Gündoğdu, Doğan Hızlan, Songül Karahasanoğlu, Arif Sağ, Hasan Saltık and Süleyman Şenel.

He took his award from Mutlu and the founder and honorary chairman of the Aydın Doğan Foundation, Aydın Doğan. He said folk songs were the symbols of crying and smiling faces of Turkish society. “Folk songs are like a novel, they are our life and historical documents. The number of organizations that serve folk music should be increased. This award gives me more responsibility. I will work, research and produce more,” Özbek said.

Ege University State Turkish Music Conservatory was also presented a service award at the ceremony as an education center that has contributed to Turkish folk music and dance since 1984. Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Kadir Topbaş and Doğan Holding Tourism Group Chair Sema Doğan presented the award to Ege University Rector Candeğer Yılmaz.

Following the award ceremony, Istanbul Radio Youth Choir performed a concert under the conduction of Zafer Gündoğdu. Also, all artists at the ceremony performed Turkish folk music icon Aşık Veysel’s famous song “Uzun İnce Bir Yoldayım” (I am on a long, narrow path).

Born in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa in 1945, Mehmet Özbek finished his primary and secondary education there. He graduated from the Istanbul University Faculty of Literature Turkish Language and Literature and completed his Ph.D. with a thesis on Şanlıurfa songs.

He also attended Istanbul Municipality Conservatory Turkish music Department. He passed the exam of the Turkish Radio Television, or TRT, in 1966 and started working there. He gave Turkish folk music lessons at various universities and became the conductor of the Culture Ministry Ankara State Turkish Folk Music Choir.

He gathered folk songs from many regions in Turkey and abroad, including Iraq, Azerbaijan, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania, and promoted Turkish folk music during concerts in different countries.

He also has a few books and many prizes.

(Source: www.hurriyetdailynews.com )