5-year-old Emir Alp becomes the youngest mehter

In Bursa, five-year-old Emir Alp Ozdemir has become the youngest volunteer member of the Historical Bursa Mehter Team, an interest that began in infancy and grew into regular performances alongside the group.

Emir Alp's parents, Ugur Ozdemir and Betul Ozdemir, began playing mehter marches for their son shortly after his birth in 2021, initially as a way to wake him up in the mornings.

Over time, Emir Alp memorized the mehter marches and began using ladles and pots at home as makeshift drums, while attempting to play his flute in the style of a zurna, a traditional Turkish wind instrument.

Emir Alp often imitated mehter marching formations and sang the marches in public settings, including parks and family gatherings, drawing attention from those around him.

His family regularly brought him to mehter performances at the Panorama 1326 Bursa Conquest Museum, where he watched from the front row during repeated visits over several weeks.

During one of these performances, Mesut Ozkeser, chairperson of the Historical Bursa Mehter Team Association's board of directors, invited Emir Alp onto the stage after noticing his enthusiasm for the music.

Following his first appearance on stage, Emir Alp began wearing a mehter uniform and taking part in performances held four days a week alongside the rest of the team.

During performances, Emir Alp walks beside the mehterbasi, the lead performer of the band, and has become a point of interest for audiences watching the shows.

Emir Alp's father said his son showed little interest in toys, focusing instead on mehter music, and that attempts to redirect his attention elsewhere were unsuccessful.

Mesut Ozkeser described Emir Alp as having a strong sense of rhythm and musical ability for his age, noting that his adaptation to the team's marching and performances was notable given his young age.