Renowned Turkish musician performs on campus

RELEASED: Sept. 21, 2006

DANVILLE, KY—The Centre College Music Program will host an evening of traditional Turkish music featuring Latif Bolat on Sept., 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Newlin Hall in the Norton Center for the Arts. The event is free and open to the public.

"We're delighted to inaugurate the Centre College One-World Music Series with Latif Bolat," says Larry Bitensky, Associate Professor of Music at Centre. "Mr. Bolat is a real contemporary Turkish troubadour and ambassador for all things Turkish, and he's quite fluent in Turkish history, folklore and religion."

Specializing in the ancient Turkish mystic-devotional music genre, Bolat will accompany himself on a Turkish lute known as a baglama. By creating an intimate, storytelling atmosphere, he explains Turkish folk and mystic music and its sociopolitical and cultural elements.

"In an era when it's so easy to simplify and stereotype things related to the Islamic world, it's so wonderful to welcome someone who can speak from the richness, diversity, and humanism within Islam and who is a living testament to Islam's message of love and peace," reflects Bitensky.

Bolat is a native of the Turkish Mediterranean town of Mersin. After receiving his degree in folklore and music at Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey, he taught traditional music throughout the country. He then went on to manage Ankara Halk Tiyatrosu, a musical theater company, which performed traditional musical plays. Mr. Bolat also received additional degrees in Turkish history and Middle East religion and politics from Ankara University and an MBA from San Francisco State University.

Now residing in the United States, Mr. Bolat is one of the most distinguished Turkish musicians in this country. He has presented concerts and lectures at colleges, universities, performing arts institutions and festivals across the US, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Philippines, Scotland, Singapore, Indonesia and Turkey.

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