10/19/2024
TCCNJ Hosted a Musical: "Ümit Nağmeleri", the "Songs of Hope" at Bergen County Academies.
"Ümit Nağmeleri", the "Songs of Hope" began their U.S. tour with a large program held in New Jersey. The "Songs of Hope" program showcased both joy and sorrow together. The young artists kicked off their performance with Zülfü Livaneli’s classic piece “Merhaba,” which the audience enthusiastically joined. Following that, two young singers, Mehlika and Mehtap, performed another piece by Livaneli, “Sürgün.” One of the most emotional moments of the program was when Fadime Güler’s farewell poem "Elveda" was recited. A religious culture teacher in Adıyaman, Fadime Güler was dismissed from her students due to a government decree and later succumbed to cancer. Struggling against both oppression and illness, she wrote the poem "Elveda" before her passing. Nurefşan’s recitation of "Elveda" moved the audience to tears as they remembered Fadime Güler, who left behind a grieving husband and two children. The evening was hosted by Nicholas Bixa, who is known from the Turkish Olympiads. His charming and humorous style while presenting won over the audience. At times, Nicholas shared his own story, making the crowd laugh with his Turkish jokes. It wasn’t just artists of Turkish origin who performed pieces reflecting Turkey’s cultural diversity. Amin and Said from Africa, Tariel, Ilyas, and Ayhan from Central Asia, Nurefşa from Germany, Mehlika and Mehtap from Canada, and Xhoni, Selma from Europe were part of the Ümit Nağmeleri lineup. Zülal and Vildan from the United States also participated in the performance. Following their performance in New Jersey, "Songs of Hope" is set to continue their tour with performances on October 13 in Washington DC, October 15 in Dallas, October 18 in San Francisco, and October 20 in Los Angeles.
