The İhsan Doğramacı International Composition Competition, organized by Bilkent University for the first time this year, has been concluded. It was suggested that the participating works be dedicated to Atatürk within the framework of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. The competition was held in the category of orchestral works with the goal of preserving Hocabey’s memory in both the arts and sciences.
The following composers were declared the winners by the jury, which included Gürer Aykal, Zosha Di Castri, Mahir Cetiz, Kamran İnce, Magnus Lindberg, Orhun Orhon, Onur Türkmen, and Hasan Uçarsu:
1st Prize: Mithat Can Öcal (You can listen to the work here.)
2nd Prize: Massimo Lauricella (You can listen to the work here.)
3rd Prize: Akin Kilis (You can listen to the work here.)
Honorable Mentions: Roberto Sansuini, İlayda Deniz Oğuz, Hasan Niyazi Tura
The Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor Gürer Aykal, presented the composers’ award-winning compositions on April 3, Prof. İhsan Doğramacı’s 109th birthday. Every two years, the competition will continue to take place, with piano in 2026, violin in 2028, and cello in 2030.
