On Friday, February 16 Armenian-Turkish musician Arto Tunçboyaciyan will perform a concert in honor of slain Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink. The concert has been organized by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies in the hopes that the message of Arto's music will encourage reflection on the life of a great man. The concert will take place in Paine Hall at 8:00 p.m.. Entrance is free of charge.
Hrant Dink was murdered on Friday, January 19 outside of his office in Istanbul. Dink was a journalist and a champion of free speech in Turkey. He also encouraged understanding between Armenians and Turks. Founder and Editor in Chief of the Armenian-Turkish weekly Agos, Dink was a loud voice in contemporary political conversations in Turkey. Tried under article 301 of the Turkish penal code; of the bunch of Turkish citizens recently charged under this article with "insulting Turkishness," Dink was the only one found guilty. At the time of his trial, Dink appeared on Turkish television in tears. "I'm living together with Turks in this country," he said then. "And I'm in complete solidarity with them. I don't think I could live with an identity of having insulted them in this country." Dink was convicted and given a six-month suspended sentence, meaning that he would not have been forced to serve prison time unless he had repeated the offense. "I will not be silent," he said. "As long as I live here, I will go on telling the truth, just as I always have."
Dink was known for his fearlessness and also for his humanity. It is in the spirit of Hrant Dink's humanity and his call for understanding that the Center for Middle Eastern Studies has organized this concert by Arto Tunçboyaciyan.
Arto Tunçboyaciyan is a native of Galataria, Turkey. He grew up in Turkey and under the tutelage of his brother, renowned Armenian-Turkish composer and producer Onno Tunç, Arto also entered the music profession. Known for his amazing percussion and sazbo skills, Arto has both composed and played with musicians including: Sezen Aksu, Eleftheria Arvanithaki, Ara Dinkjian, Paul Winter and Serj Tankian. In the 1990's Arto was part of the groundbreaking Anatolian-influenced Jazz group, Night Ark. One of Arto's most interesting new projects is the Armenian Navy Band, a 15 piece group playing Avant Garde Folk that Arto founded and currently leads. Last year, the Armenian Navy Band won the BBC World Music Award for Fan Appreciation. Arto's message is about "Truth, Love and Respect." Arto is the only contemporary musician to compose new songs in both Armenian and in Turkish.