• A meaningful concert for March 18: Veterans and healthcare workers came together
• The Epic of Çanakkale commemorated through Turkish folk music
• Adıgüzel, Chief Physician of Bilkent City Hospitals Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital: “We saw the spirit of 1915 in the eyes of the participants”

March 17, 2026

On the occasion of March 18 Çanakkale Victory and Martyrs’ Memorial Day, a meaningful concert was organized by Ankara Music and Fine Arts University (MGU) with the support of the Council of Higher Education.

The concert, performed by the MGU Turkish Folk Music Ensemble at the Conference Hall of Bilkent City Hospital Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital, was attended not only by patients receiving treatment at the center but also by relatives of martyrs, veterans, members of the Turkish Armed Forces, and the Police Organization.

At the concert, where the Epic of Çanakkale was commemorated through Turkish folk melodies, soloists Emin Karadayı, Fatma Zehra Özaydın, and Canan Işık took the stage. The musicians İsmail Hakkı Parmaksız (bağlama), Berkin Gürler (kemane), İbrahim Efe Turcan (percussion), Ali Fırat Ağdiken (classical guitar), and Yunus Emre (bass guitar) enriched the performance.

- “We created a very emotional and beautiful day”

Chief Physician of Bilkent City Hospital Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital, Prof. Emre Adıgüzel, thanked the Council of Higher Education and MGU for organizing this meaningful event.

Stating that such activities are truly valuable for patients staying in the hospital and their relatives, Adıgüzel continued:

“March 18 Çanakkale Victory makes today especially meaningful for us. Today, relatives of martyrs, our veterans, and members of our Turkish Armed Forces and Police Organization were also with us. Alongside them, patients from every corner of our hospital—both adults and children—joined us. We truly experienced a very emotional and beautiful day. Whether in uniform or not, the children of this nation are always ready to sacrifice their blood and lives for their homeland. Today, in a way, we relived this by going back to the past. Similar emotions filled the hall. When we looked into the eyes of the participants, we all witnessed the spirit of 1915 together. We are proud to be a part of this.”

- Participants experienced emotional moments

Veteran Vahap Tümen, who lost his leg in a clash with terrorists in 1994 in the Genç district of Bingöl, said: “It was a very beautiful event, we liked it. As families of martyrs and veterans, we have paid a price for this homeland, but I’m glad I gave my leg for this country. I am happy for that.”

Nurten Özdemir, who is receiving treatment at the hospital and attended the concert, stated: “I was deeply moved. For the first time, I couldn’t stand up during our National Anthem, and I couldn’t hold back my tears.”

Another patient, Vahide Çakır, said: “It is very nice to be remembered. This is not something that could ever be forgotten.”

Gür Sultan Ay, who came from Afyonkarahisar to Ankara for treatment, noted: “I was very emotional. We commemorate our martyrs. May they rest in peace.”

The concert, organized on the 111th anniversary of the epic struggle for the homeland, created emotional moments for participants and once again commemorated the spirit of Çanakkale through folk songs.

Among the attendees were MGU Vice Rector Prof. Zafer Kurtaslan, veterans and their families, Special Operations Department personnel, and healthcare workers.