NIKOLOS DIMOPOULOS-Flute 12-22 July Municipal Conservatory of Thermi/Idee Fixe ensemble(GR)
Nikolos Dimopoulos was born in 1967 and had his first piano lesson at the age of six and his first flute lesson at the age of 12. Initially a member of popular music groups, he went on to study the classical flute at the State Conservatoire of Thessaloniki with T. Takahashi and Ilie Macovei under whom he graduated with merit and a special prize in 1988. He then went on to study at post-graduate level at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest with Lorant Kovacs and Istvan Lang (contemporary music). Upon successfully completing his studies there, Mr. Dimopoulos took part in master classes with William Bennett, Alexandre Magnin, Marc Grawels and Istvan Matuz. One of his main interests today – owing to these experiences – is with organology and historical performance. Nikolos has given numerous recitals around Greece and abroad. As a soloist he has performed with the State Orchestra of Thessaloniki, the State Orchestra of Cyprus, the Vratza Symphony Orchestra (Bulgaria) and the Symphonic Orchestra of Larissa. He is a founding member of L’estro Armonico, the Thessaloniki flute quartet, and ensemble Jazsic and retains a vivid interest in chamber music. From 1989-1999 he was co-director of the Kozani International Classical Music Courses, in the context of which he performed and worked with many renowned figures of the international music scene. As a staunch advocate of contemporary music, he has given premieres of many works and has commissioned works for the flute to composers in Greece and abroad. Recently, he undertook the making of a commercial recording of new works for the flute for the Union of Greek Composers. In 1996, Mr. Dimopoulos began his career as an orchestral player, joining the Symphony Orchestra of Thessaloniki and from 1997 he is principle flute for the State Orchestra of Thessaloniki. As a teacher he has taught at the State Conservatoire of Thessaloniki (1995-2004) and has been a guest tutor in most of the main state conservatoires in Northern Greece. He has also been a guest professor in the international summer courses of Kozani (1996-1998), Vertiscos (2002-2003) and Vlasti (2005-2007). Since 2005 he teaches at the Municipal Conservatory of Thermi.
VESSELIN BELOMAZHOV-flute 12-22 July Municipal Conservatory of Kavala
Vesselin Belomazhov was born in Bulgaria. He graduated from the State Conservatory of Pleven (in the class of his father, G. Belomazhov) and the State Academy of Sofia. In 1980 he was appointed solo flute at the National Opera of Varna. In 1983 he founded the “Varna” Wind Quintet, which won several awards at competitions and performed in many international festivals (Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, France and Spain).
Since 1989 he lives and works in Greece as a performer and flute teacher at the Contemporary Conservatory of Thessaloniki, and since 1995 at the Municipal Conservatory of Kavala. Aside from works by Greek composers which he has presented with the Chamber Orchestra of the ERT-3, he has also recorded for the Bulgarian, Polish and Greek State Radio-Television.He regularly teaches at seminars and serves as jury member at competitions. Among the young flutists who have graduated from his class, more than 20 are currently enjoying a successful career in Greece or abroad.
BARBARA VENETIKIDOU- Clarinet 17-22 July Guest of the Papaioannou festival
Born in 1981 in Thessaloniki,Greece, Barbara found the way to the clarinet at the age of 13. She received her clarinet degree in 2001 at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki with "cum laude", class of Paula Smith. In 2001 she came to Berlin and studied at the Uninversity of Fine Arts, from where she received the clarinet degree with "cum laude", class of Prof. Georg Zeretzke. She went on with her master's studies at the Music University of Wuerzburg, class of Prof. Ulrich Wurlitzer, where she received the master's degree in clarinet with "cum laude" She received the Greek State Scholarship during her master's studies.She was winner of the national clarinet competition of Greece in 1999.She played as soloist with all the Greek symphony orchestras, as well as with the Symphonie Orchester Berlin , performing the concerto of Mozart in the famous Berlin Philharmonic Hall.She has represented Greece in various musical occasions as the International Meeting of the Conservatories of the Mediterranean, the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra and the European Union Symphony Orchestra.After her studies in Germany she became both clarinet player at the National Opera of Athens and a clarinet teacher at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, where she had studied herself. One of her students was accepted at the European Youth Orchestra at the age of 16 and won many international prizes.Today Barbara is the solo clarinet player of the Police Orchestra of Berlin-Brabdenburg, at the musi ensemble of the contemporary theater Berliner Volksbuehne, at the woodwind ensemble "Aeolides Quintet" and teaches clarinet at the State Conservatory of Potsdam.
THANOS FISEKIS-Saxophone 12-17 July Municipal Conservatory of Lamia(Gr)
Thanos Fisekis obtained saxophone degree (Theodore Kerkezos class) and also classes under Jean-Marie Londeix. He has appeared as recitalist and chamber musician in halls like- The Athens Concert Hall, The National Opera, Acropolis of Athens, Goethe, Parnassos Hall, Athens College, and others. He teaches in various conservatories in Greece since the year 2000 and his students have participated and won prizes in panhellenic and also international competitions. He has organized the International Saxophone Competition in the Municipal Conservatory of Lamia in 2007 which hosted big personalities of music. He has also co-organized the Panhellenic and Pancyprian Saxophone meeting in Volos in 2012 in cooperation with the saxophone classes of the European University of Cyprus, the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, the Municipal Conservatory of Thermi Thessaloniki and others. He has been an artistic director of the cultural Olympiad Athens 2004 to which participated 34 school units from the state of Fthiotida, Greece. He has collaborated with the largest manufacturer company of Saxophones <<Η.Selmer Paris>> he frequents as jury member and is also honorary member of the European Center for Saxophone Study as a personality of Saxophone in Greece.
PIERLUIGI DESTRO Wind ensembles 12- 22 July International Coordinator at the Conservatorio di Padua(IT)
Pierluigi Destro (1959) was a student at the Venice Conservatory and graduated in oboe in 1982 with full marks under the guidance of M° Bruno Baldan (principal oboe of Teatro La Fenice Symphony Orchestra, Venice). He completed his instrumental studies in 1980 at the Nice International Academy with M° Pierre Pierlot (1st prize at the Geneva International Music Competition, international soloist and 1st oboe soloist at the Opéra de Paris orchestra), in 1981 at the Pescara Music Academy with M° Augusto Loppi(1st prize at the Geneva International Music Competition, principal oboe of Teatro alla Scala in Milan and also of the Accademia di S. Cecilia in Rome).Pierluigi was awarded the Diploma of Merit in 1981 and thereafter studied in 1984 in Salzburg at the Mozarteum Music Academy with Mo Lothar Koch's Berliner Philarmoniker. Destro also studied in Italy with M° Walter Bianchi (principal oboe of San Paolo Symphony) and with M° Maurice Bourgue (1st prize at the Geneva International Music Competition and international soloist). He also studied Alexander Technique in Padua with Giorgio Ravazzolo and was awarded the Diploma of Merit. From 1983 to 1986 he performed as an oboist in Padua with "I Solisti Veneti" chamber orchestra and from 1983 to 1991 in Rome with the RAI Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra. Founder of the Padua Double Reed Trio and Padua Wind Quintet, Destro won several national and international prizes and was awarded the Diploma of Merit at the prestigious 9th Martigny Chamber Music International Competition in Switzerland. As a specialist in chamber music, Destro has given concerts in Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, France, Hungary, Italy, India, Kazakhistan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Rumania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. In 1998 he oversaw the reconstruction and revision of the score of Beethoven's symphony n° 7 in the version for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassons and double basson, originally published in 1816 by Steiner – Wien. This new version was published in 1998 by Ut Orpheus (Bologna) and presented wordwide for the first time in March 1998 at the fairs of Frankfurt and Paris, where it was reviewed by Radio France as “the best work of the year”.Since 1983 Destro has been teaching Chamber Music for Woodwind Ensemble, working in Castelfranco Veneto, Udine, Vicenza (where he has also acted as Quality Assurance Coordinator, International Relations Manager, Vice Director and Director) and, last but not least, in Padua where he is currently Permanent Professor, Erasmus Coordinator, A.E.C. Coordinator and International Relations Mananger. Destro studied orchestral conducting with M° Ludmil Descev (principal conductor of the Sofia State Symphony and Ballet orchestras for 25 years in Bulgaria). In 1994 he graduated in Orchestra Conducting with full marks. In 1996 he completed his postgraduate studies in Opera Conducting with great honours. Since his debut, Destro has conducted: Yerevan Chamber orchestra (Armenia), J. Haydn Wind Ensemble (Austria), Classic Avantgarde Chamber Orchestra and the Belorussian State Academy Symphony Orchestra (Belarus) where he was appointed Permanent Guest Conductor in 2005; Plovdiv Symphony Orchestra, Schoumen State Symphony, Sofia Chamber Orchestra and Sofia Soloists (Bulgaria) , Shenyang Youth Symphony Orchestra (China), Kazakh State Chamber Orchestra (Kazakhistan) , Riga Wind Symphony Orchestra (Latvia),Vilnius Wind Ensemble (Lithuania), Calcutta Foundation String Orchestra (India) where he was appointed International Guest Conductor in 2001; National Philarmonic Orchestra and RadioTelevision Symphony where he was appointed Principal Guest Conductor in 1997 (Rep. Moldova); Bacau Symphony Orchestra (Rumania), National Library Symphony Orchestra (Russia), Yasar Chamber Orchestra (Turkey), Cordoba Wind Ensemble and Badajoz Wind Ensemble (Spain), Mimar Sinan Wind Ensemble (Turkey) and Zaporozhye Symphony (Ukraine). In his native Italy, he has conducted the C. Pollini Chamber Symphony, Euphonia Chamber Symphony, Padua Wind Ensemble (Principal Conductor from 1990 to 1997), Pordenone Symphony, T. Schipa Wind Ensemble, Vicenza Jazz Orchestra and Rapallo Symphony Orchestra.Since 1983 Destro has been teaching Chamber Music for Woodwind Ensemble, working in Castelfranco Veneto, Udine, Vicenza (where he has also acted as Quality Assurance Coordinator, International Relations Manager, Vice Director and Director) and, last but not least, in Padua where he is currently Permanent Professor, Erasmus Coordinator, A.E.C. Coordinator and International Relations Mananger.
STEFANIA SOAVE -Flute 12-22 July Conservatorio di Trieste(IT)
After graduation, brilliantly achieved in 1983 at the "C. Pollini "of Padua, with C. Hoogendoorn Scimone, she continued his studies under the guidance of Conrad Klemm and William Bennett in Italy and with Alain Marion at the International Academy of the Mozarteum in Salzburg.She played in various chamber and orchestral ensembles, including "I Solisti Veneti”, the Quintet Patavium, the Quartet of Flutes Briccialdi, Trio Soave, Instrumental Trio Academy of Padua, the group" I Solisti di Padova ', the Mozart Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble of Padua, the Duo Magadis, the Aeolus Ensemble, Duo Arcadia, Orchestra Mozart, Flute Quartet Berthomieu.With “I Solisti Veneti” attended the Salzburg Festival '83 and '84 and recorded for Erato. Apparent winner of awards in national and international competitions with the Flute Quartet Briccialdi (Chienti '87, Stresa '87, '87 Porcia, ACAD ENDAS Genoa-'88) is also awarded to the Trio Soave Review Centese '85, Stresa ' 86, Isle of Capri '89. With the WoodWind Ensemble of Padua, conducted by Pierluigi Destro, was rewarded in Stresa '93 and won the Award of Merit in the competition A.Gi.Mus. TIM '93.With I Solisti di Padova was invited to play in Hungary, Norway and Sweden, where she recordedfor Swedish Radio.As a soloist she has performed with the Festival Orchestra of Plovdiv (Bulgaria) during the Italian tour '97, with the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Moldova in '98, with PloiestiPhilarmony Orchestra in 2008, with the Orchestra of St. Marco di Pordenone in 2010, always under Pierluigi Destro’s baton. Teaches flute for over twenty years and is interested in teaching flute for groups of children and young people, treating musical adaptations and receiving awards in many reviews.Winner of the national competition for teach flute at the conservatories, is professor of flute at the"Tito Schipa" Conservatory in Lecce. From 2002 she plays as Principal Flute with the Civic Wind Orchestra of Padua, a brilliant team that performs music concert seasons summer and autumn in Padua, in addition to touring in Switzerland, Germany and Slovenia.With the Flute Quartet "Marc Berthomieu” (www.quartettoberthomieu.it) she dedicated to the research and implementation of the repertoire for flute quartet nineteenth century to the present day and recorded the cd " French atmosphere ". A deepening and completion of the teaching and concerts, she is the author of research on the biographies of great flutists of the past (for example, "Jean-Pierre Rampal, the flutist of the twentieth century," "Reflections in a golden flute: Severino Gazzelloni" "Arrigo Tassinari, the flutist of Toscanini”), and lectures in collaboration with M ° Fabio Bacelle at Libraries and Italian Conservatories.
DIMITRIS LEONTZAKOS-Clarinet 12- 22 July 2014 Municipal Conservatory of Thermi/ Idee Fixe ensemble(GR)
Dimitris Leontzakos was born in Kavala. He introduced himself to music by playing the clarinet, flute and the recorder. He dedicated himself to the clarinet. He graduated from the Synchrono Conservatory of Thessaloniki (class of K. Papadopoulos). He also studied the clarinet with Gerd Starke (Music Academy of Munich, Germany), Anton Hollich (Baden-Baden), Vincenzo Mariozzi (Santa Cecilia Music Academy, Rome) and Richard Faria (Fulbright Scholarship, Ithaca College, New York, U.S.A). He participated in Masterclasses with Charles Neidic, Aurelian Popa, Walter Boeykens and Michel Letiec. He now permanently performs with the Thessaloniki City Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Volos Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Symphony Orchestra of Katerini Music School and Symphony Orchestra of Serres Music School. He teaches the clarinet in the Filippos Nakas Music Conservatory in Thessaloniki. He has co-founded the contemporary music ensemble ‘OMAδA 3 plus’ (clarinet, violin & piano) and he is member of the contemporary music ensembles “Idée fixe” and “Terra Incognita” (Jazz, Experimental).
ΣΤΕΛΙΟΣ ΚΟΤΡΩΤΣΙΟΣ | Κλαρινέτο | 12-17 Ιουλίου Δημοτικό Ωδείο Λάρισας
Γεννηθηκε στη Λαρισα το 1974.Σε ηλικια 12 ετων αρχισε κλαρινετο και το 1995 Αποφοιτησε με διπλωμα από την ταξη του Κοσμα Παπαδοπουλου στο Συγχρονο Ωδειο Θεσσαλονικης.Μελετησε επισης με σπουδαιους κλαρινετιστες και ελαβε μερος σε πολλες συναυλιες μουσικης δωματιου. Είναι μελος των συνολων «Ενωδεια» Αντιθεσεις.΄΄Ο ηχος ως εχει¨όπως επισης είναι τακτικο μελος της ΣΟΝΔΛ και της φιλαρμονικης του ΔΩΛ.Επι σειρα ετων διδαξε σε διαφορα ωδεια και μουσικα σχολεια.Απο το 1997 είναι καθηγητης της ταξης κλαρινετου του Δημοτικου Ωδειου Λαρισας.Διδασκει επισης στο Ωδειο Τρικαλων Α.Κασιωλα.
THEOFILOS SOTIRIADES-Saxophone 12-22 July Municipal Conservatory of Thermi/Idee Fixe ensemble(GR)
Theofilos Sotiriades was born in Thessaloniki (Greece) and graduated from the Faculty of Psychology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He graduated from the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki with the degree of the highest distinction (class of Vassilis Vradelis) and then as a scholar of the Foundation of the Greek State Scholarships, he studied in the “’Ecole Nationale de Musique de Créteil” in Paris, in the class of Georges Porte (first prize and special distinction about the interpretation of contemporary music). During his residence in France he won prizes in the European Music Contests “Picardie” and “Leopold Bellan”. As a professional saxophonist he realized concerts in Europe, Ukraine and USA and officially participated in International Music Festivals and Congress such as LSU International Mini Festival of Art (USA), BGSU 27th New Music Festival (USA), XIX Festival Forfest Czech Republic, ΕlectroMediaWorks 2008 (Athens, Greece), XIII & XIV World Saxophone Congress (Minneapolis, USA and Ljubljana, Slovenia) and Odysseia Symposium (Georgia State University). As a soloist, Theofilos performed with the famous French Quintet of Saxophones of Paris, Louisiana Sinfonietta (USA), Neuchâtel Chamber Orchestra (Switzerland) and the State Symphony Orchestra of Thessaloniki (Greece). Distinguished contemporary Greek composers have dedicated some of their works to him and he performed their world premieres (more than thirty). As a result of his deep interest for the promotion of the Hellenic music for saxophone, he recorded two compact discs: “Recollections” and “Theofilos Sotiriades and friends. Music for saxophone by Dinos Constantinides”. He also recorded American contemporary music for Newtertian Recordings and Magni Publications. As a researcher, he is actually completing a catalogue of all the saxophone works written by Greek composers. Moreover, his artistic creativity covers a wide range of activities: artistic director of the Hellenic Festival of Saxophone and the Macedonian Saxophone Quartet, founding member of the Hellenic Association of Saxophone and creator of diverse ensembles: “Panas Duo” (saxophone & dance), “The guitarphone of Adolf Sax” (saxophone & guitar), “Aegean Duo” (saxophone & piano). Passionate about teaching, Theofilos holds a position in the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki and Municipal Conservatory of Thermi, a contract job in University of Macedonia and teaches as a guest professor in Pelion Festival and the “Brache International music Days” (Germany). He also taught as a visitor professor in American Universities such as Georgia State, Rutgers and Kutztown. His obsessive belief about the social and educational dimensions of music as a mean for the improvement of our human life comes true as a long-term and strong collaboration with the UNESCO Chair of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the creation of the “kUkLuXsaX” orchestra (youth, non-professional saxophone orchestra). Recently, he received his master’s degree of Music Performance from the studio of Dr. John Sampen in Bowling Green State University while he was working as an assistant professor of saxophone at the same institution.Τhe current year 2010 became promoter as “Rico Artist” of the RICO company, one of the most prestigious companies of the world in producing high quality reeds for saxophone.