Composition
My curiosity and interest in various music genres sometimes keep me too ‘distracted’ to compose music that can be categorised in a particular movement or aesthetic. However, I believe that different influences can mould one’s personal language without disturbing its homogeneity and identity. I am fascinated by the ideas of deconstruction, subjective interpretation, distortion, and fusion of pre-existing material. My latest pieces are more concept-oriented and include text, hybrid vocal techniques, and multimedia. Each piece is constructed with the philosophy of a small universe, with its internal rules and balances. Composition is my internal need to communicate ideas or feelings, with the hope that they might add a tiny stone to the grand mosaic of the existing musical heritage.
Biography
I was born in 1993 in Sitia and grew up in Edessa (northern Greece), where I took my first musical steps at the municipal music school, obtaining degrees in harmony, counterpoint, and clarinet. Traditional music in Greek provincial areas is usually culturally stronger than the so-called Western classical tradition; this dichotomy between two musical worlds was the norm during my upbringing and played an important role in fostering my positive attitude towards various musical influences and ethnomusicology.
My academic journey includes a Master’s in composition with Christos Samaras at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where I graduated as a valedictorian (2011-2017), and a Master’s/Concert Exams in Music with Dieter Mack at the Lübeck University of Music (2017-2021). I am currently a doctoral candidate at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre, supported by a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). My research focuses on hybrid voice in opera, under the supervision of Gordon Kampe and Nina Noeske. I have participated in numerous masterclasses with renowned composers, such as Michael Finnissy, Oliver Schneller, and Phillip Mainz.
Prizes
2021 | Premium Prize at the Possehl competition for new performative concepts, Lübeck
2021 | 2nd Prize at the ‘Over the rainbow; composition competition for Human Rights, Vienna
2021 | Finalist at the Toolbox Percussion composition competition, Hong Kong
2019 | Finalist at the TONALi 2019 composition competition, Hamburg
2019 | Finalist at the ‘Citta di Udine’ international composition competition, Udine
2018 | Brahms Festival Prize, Lübeck
2018 | 1st Prize at the ‘Spring days of contemporary music’ composition competition, Weimar
2018 | 1st Prize at the 1st Kr. Penderecki composition competition for young composers, Krakau
2018 | Public award for best short children’s book for “Apenanti” by Thodoris Papaioannou, Athens
2016 | 2nd Prize (1st not awarded) at the ‘Giorgos Sisilianos’ composition competition, Athens
2016 | Excellence from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
2015| Special Prize by the Hellenic Choir Association, Athens
2015 | Special Prize by the Hellenic Choir Association, Athens
2015 | Semifinalist at the international composition competition ‘Maurice Ravel’, Bergamo
2015| 1st Prize at the 6th International Antonin Dvorak composition competition, Prague
Commissions, collaborations
Greek National Opera| Athens State Orchestra| Hamburger Symphoniker| Toolbox percussion| Unerhörte Musik Berlin| Athens Festival| Voci Contra Tempo| Possehl Stiftung| Petersburg Art Space Berlin| MHL Orchester| Praga Sinfonietta| Thessaloniki Piano Festival| LUX:NM| Ensemble Handwerk| Ensemble N| Trio Ludique et Sérieux| Quasars ensemble| Pre-art ensemble| MotoContrario| Greek ensemble of contemporary music| Hellenic Choir Association| Quartetto Saloniko| and more.
Performance
I always seek the feverish excitement of being on stage, whether as a conductor of contemporary music or as a performer.
Pedagogy
Currently, I work as a lecturer in composition, musicology, and music theory at the Berlin Academy for Music (AfM) and at the International Centre for Music and Arts Beijing.