Our Story
Our Vatan Choir was established in 1999 under the chairmanship of Zuhal Sibel Özdemir and the auspices of the Turkish American Women’s League.
Our Vatan Choir will continue to work independently in the following years as long as it exists.
Turkish Music is in and around New York and Vatan Choir works with the aim of keeping the culture alive and promoting concerts.
It also serves human values by donating its concert revenues to various charities carrying the honor and pride of the plaques.
Our Choir formed by amateur and professional musicians who gave their heart to Turkish Music and its members continues to increase and welcomes new members with a passion for music and determination to advance vocal or instrumental skills.
Our Vatan choir, which has worked with valuable names such as Dr. İrfan Doğrusöz, Tülin Uyanıker, Ahmet Erdoğdular, Gökhan Seyrek, Gökhan Çankaya, Caner Tokgözol and İzmir radio artist Dahi Levent Armağan, is continuing its work this year under the direction of Mr. Ali Kahya, a graduate of Istanbul State Conservatory. Our Choir’s classical Turkish music and folk music studies continue by his leadership.
Ali Kahya
Ali Kahya, a longtime professional entertainer, is a diversely skilled musician, playing and singing in both Eastern and Western styles. Ali began pursuing the study of the double bass at the State Conservatoire in Istanbul. During his years at the conservatory, he concentrated on studying Western music and performed with the Symphonic Orchestra.
Once he had completed his education, Ali decided to jump the pond to New York City. There, he quickly began performing as a pianist and taught music in New York public and private schools, giving lectures. During his tenure there, he performed for numerous Turkish heads of state as well as during the democratic convention for Bill Clinton at Bryant Park and shared the stage with other notable entertainers. More recently, Ali has not only been performing in the New York area but also throughout the United States and internationally, While he is renowned for his renditions of Turkish music, he continues to perform in a wide variety of styles in theatrical and concert settings, Ali is proudly working as a music director for Vatan Choir
Choir Members
- AYSUN EREM
- ASLI EREM
- ADNAN ETIKE
- BAHAR KARAKUŞ
- CANAN TEMIZ
- CEM YİĞİT
- ECE OKAT
- EVRIM ÇİÇEK
- ERDOĞAN ÇİLİNGİR
- FATIH ERGUN
- FERDA GÖKŞEN
- FATOŞ DUMAN
- FUNDA NERGİZ
- HÜLYA DENIZKUŞU
- HÜLYA ŞEKEROĞLU
- HATİCE TÜRKMEN
- MİNE TAKIL
- MUSTAFA TANYERI
- MÜZEYYEN GÕKŞEN
- MELTEM METE YEĞEN
- NURŞEN ZENBİL
- ÕZGE KARADAĞ ÇAMAN
- SEVGİ SİDOTE
- SERPİL AYKAN
- ŞEREFCAN ÕZDEMİR
- ŞERIFE SAYAL
- VEDAT CİNGÕZLER
- VEYSEL EREM
- YILMAZ DOĞER
- ZUHAL SİBEL ÕZDEMİR
Other Members
- ALİ KAHYA
- ASUMAN ERTEM
- CANBERK DAYAN
- CEREN KESİCİ
- EKREM HIZARSLAN
- FİLİZ ŞEN
- GAMZE SALİHOĞLU
- GÜNAY MENEKŞE
- İLHAN ÇUBUKÇUOĞLU
- KURTULUŞ ŞAHİN
- MUSTAFA KARAMUK
- YAĞMUR ÖZKILIÇ
- YEŞİM GÜERSEL
- OLGAÇ AKER
- SEDAT YAMAN
- SENİHA ÖZDEN YOLAÇAN
- TAYYAR AKDENİZ
- TİMUR AYHAN
- TUNCAY ERTEM
- YASEMİN ERİM DEMİRCİ
Board Members
- SALIH MANSUR
- ECE OKAT
- FATIH ERGUN
- HÜLYA DENIZKUŞU
- CANAN TEMIZ
- ÕZGE KARADAĞ ÇAMAN
- CEM YİĞİT
- BAHAR KARAKUŞ
- MELTEM METE YEĞEN
- ŞEREFCAN ÖZDEMİR
- ZUHAL SİBEL ÖZDEMİR
- MÜZEYYEN GÕKŞEN