Osman Zeki Üngör

Osman Zeki Üngör (pronounced [osˈman zeˈci ynˈɟœɾ]; 1880 – 28 February 1958) was a Turkish composer, violin virtuoso and lyricist, who served as the first conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey.

Üngör helped establish the State Conservatory of Turkey and served as its first headmaster, involving himself actively in the creation of laws whereby the education of students with special artistic talent would be wholly sponsored by the government.

After completing his education at the middle school of the Beşiktaş Military Academy, he was admitted into the Musical Academy of the Ottoman Imperial Orchestra in 1891 at the age of 11, where he garnered the attention of his instructors as well as that of Sultan Abdul Hamid II with his talent, who soon placed him under the instruction of Chief Violinist Vondra Bey and d’Aradna Pasha.

Üngör wrote symphonic arrangement for the Turkish National Anthem in 1922, composed to the lyrics written by the poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy.

He was a key figure in the establishment of the Musik-i Muallim Cemiyeti, currently the State Conservatory at Hacettepe University, and served as its headmaster between the years 1924-1934.