- Harran University’s world champion Vox Humanis Choir performed at the 2026-2027 Higher Education Academic Year Opening Ceremony at the Presidential Complex

- In memory of childhoods cut short in Gaza, the choir performed “What We Forgot on the Other Side of the Euphrates,” arranged by Conductor Dr. Fırat Altun

- President Erdoğan: “This composition deeply moved us and transported us to a very different spiritual atmosphere”

- “We will never forget the children on the other side of the Euphrates”

- Harran University is preparing to collaborate with the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in the field of music

October 7, 2026

Harran University’s Vox Humanis Choir performed “What We Forgot on the Other Side of the Euphrates,” a composition dedicated to the memory of childhoods cut short in Gaza, at the 2026-2027 Higher Education Academic Year Opening Ceremony. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the composition, dedicated to Palestinian children deprived of their right to life and education, had deeply moved them, stating: “This composition deeply moved us and transported us to a very different spiritual atmosphere.”

Vox Humanis took the stage at the ceremony held at the National Congress and Culture Center at the Presidential Complex. The choir also performed “Hop Gülizar: Hüsnü’n Senin Ey Dilber.”

A Journey to World Championship Glory

Led by Dr. Fırat Altun, a faculty member of the Music Education Department at Harran University’s Department of Fine Arts Education, Vox Humanis brings Şanlıurfa’s local musical heritage together with the art of polyphonic music.

Founded in 2024, the choir won first place in the “Mixed Chamber Choirs and Vocal Ensembles” category at the 2026 World Choir Games, held in Sweden in August, earning a gold diploma.

The choir performed four pieces in the competition: two rooted in its own cultural heritage and arranged by Altun, and two from Western music that required different technical skills.

“We Wanted to Incorporate Our Own Musical Values into Music”

Conductor Dr. Altun explained that the idea of bringing Şanlıurfa’s musical culture together with polyphonic music had been central to the founding of Vox Humanis. “We set out by asking how we could approach this and incorporate our own musical values into music,” he said.

Altun noted that when founding the choir in 2024, they had wanted to draw inspiration from an important concept in their own culture: “being human.” He added that the name “Vox Humanis” means “human voice.”

Rehearsing for the Academic Opening Ceremony at Historic Sites

In preparation for the 2026-2027 Academic Year Opening Ceremony at the Presidential Complex, Vox Humanis continued its rehearsals at historic and cultural sites in Şanlıurfa.

The choir completed its preparations ahead of the ceremony with rehearsals at the Ancient Harran School and Bazda Caves.

President Erdoğan: “We Will Never Forget the Children on the Other Side of the Euphrates”

At the 2026-2027 Higher Education Academic Year Opening Ceremony, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan referred to “What We Forgot on the Other Side of the Euphrates,” performed by Harran University’s Vox Humanis Choir and arranged by Conductor Fırat Altun.

Noting that the piece was dedicated to Palestinian children deprived of their right to life and education, Erdoğan described its impact on him, saying: “This composition deeply moved us and transported us to a very different spiritual atmosphere.”

Recalling the students in Gaza who had lost their mothers, fathers, siblings and friends over the past three years, Erdoğan said that, in addition to homes, universities, schools and educational institutions had also been razed to the ground by what he described as the Zionist genocide network.

Stating that Palestinian students had not abandoned their struggle for life and dignity, Erdoğan said:

“On this occasion, I convey, on behalf of my country and nation, our strongest message of solidarity to all Palestinian students who, over the past three years, have buried their mothers, fathers, siblings and friends; whose homes, universities, schools and educational institutions have been razed to the ground by the Zionist genocide network; and who, despite all this, have not given up their struggle for life and dignity or their determination to exist with honor. I extend this message of solidarity to all the oppressed and victimized people in our region and across the world.

“Even if the barbarians who wear the mask of civilization forget, I wish to reiterate today, in particular, that we will never forget the children on the other side of the Euphrates, that we will always stand by them and that we will defend their just cause under all circumstances. On this occasion, I wish peace and mercy for the 74,000 people, most of them women and children, who have lost their lives as a result of Israel’s state terrorism in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.”

The Scientific Foundations of Music at KÜMÜBİL

The academic foundation of Vox Humanis’s work is the Intercultural Music, Cognition, Choir and Orchestra Performance Research Laboratory (KÜMÜBİL), established at Harran University.

Altun stated that KÜMÜBİL is the world’s 17th research laboratory in this field and the first of its kind in Türkiye. He explained that the laboratory aims to study music through testable data rather than treating it solely as a matter of interpretation, while bringing together researchers from different disciplines.

“Urfa’s Voice Will Be Heard More Powerfully Around the World”

Harran University will take its scientific research in music to the international stage through collaborations with the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Dr. Fırat Altun said that mutual agreements would be signed with the music departments of the two universities. The partnerships would involve joint scientific research and projects, followed by academic and student exchanges in the future.

Explaining that the work carried out at KÜMÜBİL would be brought together with music research at Oxford and Cambridge, Altun said: “We have brought the universities of Oxford and Cambridge to Harran. From now on, we will move forward together and begin working jointly, both in scientific music research and in making music together.”

Altun added that the collaboration would also help bring Şanlıurfa’s musical heritage to audiences around the world. “We will begin making music together with the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. I can now say that Urfa’s voice will be heard more powerfully around the world,” he said.

Mehmet Fatih Tut, who sings tenor in the choir, said he had grown up immersed in Şanlıurfa’s local musical culture from childhood and that music had become one of the important things he had held on to in life.

Demet Demir, a student in the Music Education Department, said she had discovered polyphonic choral music through Vox Humanis. She added that performing the melodies of Şanlıurfa for audiences from different countries had been a special experience for her.