In Memoriam: Attila Özdemiroglu (MESAM)

Mr. Attila Özdemiroglu who served as the President of MESAM between 1995-2003 has passed away on 20 April. He had been recently elected as Board Member at the 14th General Assembly of MESAM held on 19 March 2016.

In a career spanning five decades, Özdemiroğlu worked with many popular Turkish bands and singers such as Ajda Pekkan, Nilüfer, Kayahan and Sezen Aksu just to name a few. He is best known for his award winning film scores in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Özdemiroğlu was honored five times by the Antalya Film Festival and twice by the Adana Golden Boll Film Festival for his musical works on films.

Özdemiroğlu was born in Ankara in 1943. While studying at the faculty of law, he played violin in a chamber orchestra. In those years, he performed in many Turkish and foreign music groups.

One of his compositions, "Pet’r Oil," was selected for Turkey’s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980.