“Trisevgeni Kalokiri” Choir of the School of Music Studies of the Faculty of Fine Arts, AUTh 

“Trisevgeni Kalokiri” Choir of the School of Music Studies of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki was founded in 1994 by Trisevgeni Kalokiri, who conducted the Choir until she died in 2006. The repertoire of the Choir spans from ancient Greek music and early polyphony (which emerged in the 9th century AD) to present day music, including works by major composers (such as the Carmina Burana composed by Carl Orff, the March of Spirit composed by Mikis Theodorakis, the Stabat Mater composed by Gioachino Rossini, the Byzantine Passion composed by Michael Adamis, etc.).

“Trisevgeni Kalokiri” Choir has performed more than 80 concerts in Thessaloniki and many other cities in Greece (Dion, Edessa, Kozani, Serres, Florina, Naoussa, and Zakynthos), receiving warm reception from audiences and critics alike. In 1996 the Choir performed a concert in the Ancient Theatre of Patras. Invited by the Society of Messenian Archaeological Studies, the Choir participated in the events held in the ancient Conservatory of Messene, in May 1997, performing a concert with a programme that focused on ancient Greek music. In October 1997, it performed concerts in three cities in Sardinia, within the framework of the “ETNOCHORUS” International Festival. In September 1998, the Choir was invited by the Giuseppe Verdi Choral Society to perform concerts within the framework of the International Choral Week in Teramo (Italy). In April 2000, the Choir performed a concert in the Music Academy of Sofia.
 
The Choir has performed in the main Ceremony Hall of the Aristotle University many times so far, as well as in other significant venues in the city [such as the Conservatory of the Ancient Agora, the Cryptoporticus of the Ancient Agora, the Museum of Byzantine Culture, the Archaeological Museum, the Bey Hamam (known as the “Baths of Paradise”), the Church of Agia Sofia, the Catholic Church, the Teloglion Foundation of Art, etc.]. The Choir has also performed themed concerts that focused on significant Greek composers, which were videotaped for broadcast on ET3 (one of the three TV channels of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, known in Greek by the acronym ΕRΤ). Since it was founded, the Choir has performed more than 150 works by Greek and foreign composers, some of which had never been performed in Greece before. The Choir has cooperated many times with the Orchestra of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and twice with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra (performing the Faust Symphony composed by Franz Liszt and the Stabat Mater composed by Gioachino Rossini). On March 24th and 25th, 2000, two ceremonies were held in the main Ceremony Hall of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki to appoint Mikis Theodorakis honorary professor to the School of Music Studies. The Choir participated in these ceremonies performing works composed by Mikis Theodorakis, such as the March of Spirit. A recording of the concerts, which were conducted by Mikis Theodorakis himself, was later released on CD in collaboration with the Aristotle University Orchestra. On January 23rd, 2001, the Choir performed works by Iannis Xenakis, participating in the ceremony held to appoint the composer honorary professor to the School of Music Studies.
 
Ioannis Adamidis conducted the Choir from 2006 to 2010. Since autumn 2010, the Choir has been conducted by Maria-Emma Meligopoulou.

“Giannis Mandakas” Choir of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
“Giannis Mandakas” Choir of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is part of the Music Department of the Aristotle University Student Club. The Choir was founded in 1953 by Giannis Mandakas (1932-1998) with the aim to provide Aristotle University students and young people of Thessaloniki with music knowledge and the opportunity to develop their talents and skills. Various initiatives have been taken by the Choir, which has contributed greatly to the music scene of Thessaloniki and Greece, in general. The Choir has also participated in many events held abroad, thanks to the support of and actions taken by its founder. Since 1990, the Choir has been conducted by Petros Bekiaridis.
 
The Choir has also contributed to the development of choral music in Greece. It has renewed the repertoire, organized seminars, promoted recordings of choral music works, as well as presented hundreds of choral works, mainly of the Renaissance, Baroque and contemporary eras, to the Greek audience for the first time. The Choir aims to continue to carry out such activities.
 
The Choir has cooperated with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, the Athens State Orchestra, the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, the Aristotle University Orchestra, the Youth Chamber Music Orchestra of Thessaloniki, and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Municipality of Kalamaria. It has performed under the direction of Carolos Trikolidis, Alkis Baltas, Myron Michailidis, Dimitris Dimopoulos, Antonis Kontogeorgiou, Costis Papazoglou, Aggelos Philippou, etc. The Choir has participated in the Athens Festival and in the Demetria Festival, and has performed in many Greek cities. Moreover, the Choir has organized many Greek and International Choir and Orchestra Meetings in Thessaloniki, and has participated in choral music concerts recorded and videotaped for broadcast on the radio and television.
 
Since 1964, the Choir has been a member of the European Choral Association – Europa Cantat. It often participates in international festivals and in choral workshops, cooperating with other European choirs and orchestras, studying and performing international repertoire under the direction of great conductors such as László Heltay, Pierre Cao, Andras Farcaş, Erik van Nevel, Edmont Colomer, Johann Duyck, Tillai Aurél, Pierre Calmelet, etc.
The Choir has participated in events in the following cities:
2000: Nevers (France)
2001: Ghent (Belgium)
2002: Loughborough (England)
2003: Barcelona (Spain)
2005: Ghent (Belgium)
2007: Nevers (France)
2008: Szczecin (Poland)
2009: Utrecht (the Netherlands)
2010: Pécs (Hungary)
2011: Briançon (France)
 
For sixty years now, supported by the Rector’s Council of the Aristotle University and great colleagues, the Choir has been providing all members of the University and music lovers of Thessaloniki with the opportunity to use and develop their music talent, find out information about important choral works, and build closer ties with each other. The annual schedule of the Choir includes concerts performed in the Aristotle University, in Thessaloniki and other cities in Greece, with programmes that include Greek and foreign repertoire.

Participating in the Choir does not require any special music knowledge – just the right voice along with the right enthusiasm. In any case, though, music knowledge is welcome! There is also the “Giannis Mandakas” vocal ensemble of the Aristotle University, which consists of fewer members and performs different works from those performed by the four-voice mixed Choir.
 
New members can enroll in the Choir at the beginning of each semester and at any time throughout the academic year, provided that this does not interfere with the schedule of the Choir. The rehearsals of the Choir are open to anyone who wishes to find out more information about it. Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 20.30pm to 22.30pm in the hall of the Music Department of the Aristotle University Student Club.

Contact:
P. Bekiaridis
Τ: +30 6977971804
E: petbek@otenet.gr