The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation is presenting a series of World on Stage events in the Gardens to showcase various heritages. The Middle Eastern Heritage event was held on July 22, 2023 at the Centennial Peace Plaza in the Cultural Gardens.
The plaza was full and the crowd enjoyed musical performances from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Lebanon and Syria.
During a break as the bands set up, Dan Hanson of ClevelandPeople.com asked the crowd what heritages they represented. The diverse group included the heritages of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Bahrain. Of course there were non-Middle Easterners too - Chinese, Irish, Croatian, Russian, Polish, French and so on - a typical diverse Cleveland crowd.
Pointing to her roots in Iran
CAMEO President Pierre Bejjani served as MC and Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation president Dr. Wael Khoury welcomed the crowd.
There was delicious Lebanese food from Sittoo's.
Performances include Mehmet Gencer and world class musicians presenting instrumental music and popular songs from Turkish Art and Folk music. See more about the musicians, song lists and lyrics 
Victor Beyens and Mehmet Gencer
Mehmet Gencer, Ayla Gencer and Faruk Orge
Victor Beyens (Violin) Brendon Phelps (Cello), Henry Samuels (Double Bass) and Torrell Moss (Percussion) played three moving instrumental pieces composed in 2000s, 1900s and 1800s and vocalists Ayla Gencer and Faruk Orge accompanied Mehmet Gencer for popular songs from Turkish Art and folk music.
Torrell Moss
Brendon Phelps
Henry Samuels
Victor Beyens
Victor, Brendon, Torrell and Henry are musicians with M.U.S.I.C (Musical Upcoming Stars In Classics) which provides intimate chamber music performances by world class international musicians from Northeast Ohio and beyond.
Here is the program list
- I Love You - Ömer Faruk Tekbilek (b -1951)
- Ayrilik - Ethem Adnan Ergil (b-1961)
- Neredesin Sen- Neset Ertas (1938 -2012)
- Nihavent Longa - Kemani (Violinist) Kevser Hanim (Second half of 1800s - 1950)
- Kalbindeyim - Ilyas Yalçintas (b -1989)
- Yemenimde Hare Var - Unknown
- Kurdilihicazkar Longa - Kemani (Violinist) Sebuh Efendi (1828-1894)
They then regrouped and were joined by violinist Ari Ghahremani and performed as Persian Fusion.
Vocalist Ayla Gencer showing where the songs were from
Here is the program list
- Majnoon- Bijan Mortazavi (b -1957)
- Ayriliq - Ali Salimi (1922 -1997)
- Ay qiz- Rahman Asadollahi (b-1951)
- Daglar qizi Reyhan - Fikret Amirov (1922 - 1984)
- Barge Khazan - Bijan Mortazavi (b -1957)
Ari Ghahremani
Ari Ghahremani and Victor Beyens
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