April 3rd marks the 108th anniversary of the birth of Bilkent University’s beloved founder, Prof. İhsan Doğramacı. Each year Bilkent celebrates Prof. Doğramacı’s birthday as Bilkent Day, honoring his memory with deepest respect and affection.
This year Bilkent Day includes two main events: the Bilkent Day Conference and a celebratory concert by the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra. Both take place on April 3, at the Bilkent Concert Hall in the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts building.
The 2023 Bilkent Day Conference starts at 3 p.m. Prof. Gülsev Kale, Board of Trustees Chair, will make an opening speech, and Rector Prof. Kürşat Aydoğan will make a presentation on “Bilkent 2023.” The program will continue with a conference by Prof. Polat Gülkan from Başkent University Department of Civil Engineering, titled “An Engineer’s Idle Thoughts on the Prediction of Earthquakes.”
The celebration of Bilkent Day will conclude with a special concert by the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra. The performance begins at 8 p.m., with Gürer Aykal as conductor and Gülsin Onay as piano soloist. The program will consist of the Concerto for Piano No. 3 by Sergei Rachmaninov, “The Moldau” by Bedřich Smetana and “Spanish Capriccio” by Nikolay Rimski-Korsakov.