Yüksel Erimtan, the businessman and founder of the Erimtan Museum, receives the 39th Honor Award Gold Medal of the Sevda–Cenap And Music Foundation. The award ceremony takes place at the historic And House, where Erimtan expresses his gratitude, saying he accepts this recognition “not only on my own behalf but also on behalf of all the elders who have touched my life since childhood and taught me the love of art and music, the love of humanity, and the love of the Republic and Atatürk.”
M. Ferhat Yüksel
The Sevda–Cenap And Music Foundation offers the Honor Award Gold Medal to recognize a composer, performer, educator, supporter of the arts, or an institution whose work strengthens the recognition and development of polyphonic music in Türkiye. This year, the foundation selects Erimtan for his lifelong commitment to music and cultural life. The ceremony takes place in the And House on Atatürk Boulevard, designed by architect Emin Onat.
Distinguished guests join the evening, including Özden Toker, daughter of the 2nd President İsmet İnönü and President of the İnönü Foundation, former ministers Hikmet Sami Türk and Şevket Bülent Yahnici, CHP Deputy Chair Aylin Nazlıaka, conductors Rengim Gökmen, Bujor Hoinic and Murat Tüzün, actress Lale Mansur and conductor Cem Mansur.
EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO MUSICAL LIFE
Ali Başman, President of the Sevda–Cenap And Music Foundation, highlights the joy of gathering with the artistic community in the And House, a place that preserves the musical heritage of both the foundation’s founders and the Başman family. He explains that foundation boards unanimously choose Erimtan for the medal. Başman says: “Yüksel Erimtan earns the 2025 Honor Award Gold Medal for his extraordinary contributions to Türkiye’s music and musicians, his support as an unsung hero, and his efforts to create active concert seasons within the Erimtan Museum.” He also shares plans to establish a scholarship fund bearing Erimtan’s name that will support students starting from 2026.
LOVE FOR THE REPUBLIC AND ATATÜRK
After receiving his medal from Ali Başman, Erimtan states that this recognition holds great meaning for him: “I accept this award not only on my own behalf but also on behalf of all the elders who have touched my life since childhood and taught me the love of art and music, the love of humanity, and the love of the Republic and Atatürk.”
A PERFECT SYMBOL OF REPUBLICAN VALUES
Erimtan reflects on his long-standing connection to the And family: “Mr. Cenap And, whom I have called ‘Uncle Cenap’ since my childhood, traveled to Europe together with my father during the final period of the Ottoman Empire under a program supported by the Committee of Union and Progress. Both graduated from secondary school, the idadi, at that time. Uncle Cenap was one of my father’s closest friends. During my childhood in Ankara, before primary school, we were frequent guests at their vineyard house almost every weekend. Later, we began visiting this beautiful home designed by architect Emin Onat. Mrs. Sevda, with her refined elegance and wholehearted support for Atatürk, was the daughter of Tunalı Hilmi Bey. She spoke two languages and fully embodied the Republican woman that Atatürk envisioned. My mother was also a close friend of Mrs. Sevda. For this reason, receiving a medal from a foundation established in honor of Sevda and Cenap And is not merely an award. It symbolizes the education, manners, friendships, Republican values, and Atatürk’s principles instilled in me.”
The evening continues with a piano recital by Emre Şen, Cem Babacan, and Eren Düzenli, followed by a cocktail reception.
HONOR AWARD GOLD MEDAL RECIPIENTS
Since 1989, when Cevat Memduh Altar first received the medal, the foundation has honored many leading names in music including Ahmet Adnan Saygun, Ulvi Cemal Erkin, Necil Kazım Akses, İlhan Usmanbaş, Leyla Gencer, Cemal Reşit Rey, İdil Biret and Suna Kan, Nevid Kodallı, Hasan Ferid Alnar, Ferhunde Erkin, Ferid Tüzün, Prof. Dr. Kamuran Gündemir, Hikmet Şimşek, Faik Canselen, Ayhan Baran, Prof. Dr. İhsan Doğramacı, Ayla Erduran, Gülsin Onay, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra, İlhan Baran, Muammer Sun, Gürer Aykal, Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory, Ertuğrul Oğuz Fırat, Ruşen Güneş, Yalçın Tura, Turgay Erdener, Mehmet A. Başman, Ayşegül Sarıca, Güher & Süher Pekinel, Ersin Onay, Cihat Aşkın, Rengim Gökmen, Filiz Ali, and Hasan Uçarsu.
