Angela Amalia Kokkosis Flute

Angela Amalia Kokkosis, was born in New York as a first generation Greek-American on her father's side. The family has its roots in Kefalonia, yet now most of the relatives live in Patra, where her father was born. Aside from many long vists to Greece, Angela has lived in New York for all her life. Currently,she is in her second year at Stony Brook University with a major in Pharmacology and a minor in Health and Wellness. Two years from now she will be attending Stony Brook Medical School as a part of the eight-year B.S./M.D. Scholars for Medicine program. At Stony Brook she has joined societies such as being for the Sigma Beta Honor Society, the Pharmacology Society, Golden Key International Honor Society, and the Artemis Hellenic Society. She is also a member of a task group whose goal is to reform the university's executive, judicial, and legislative branches. Music became a big part of Angela's life when she was nine years old. She began playing the clarinet through a program at her elementary school, yet because her interest was in learning how to play the flute, her parents provided her with a flute. From that day on, she practiced the flute fervently, hoping to someday master it in all its beauty. She was part of the school marching band, the wind ensemble, and the symphony orchestra for eight years, until she graduated. She also participated in the New York State School Music Association's (NYSSMA) recitals for five years, where she received a gold medal at many of the competitions. Besides the flute, she also took up piano five years ago, and she recently joined the St. Catherine's Greek Orthodox Church choir in Astoria, as a soprano. Although she is now busy with her premedical studies, she still finds time to maintain her musical hobbies. It would be a sham to ever lose music; after all, it not only can bring happiness and serenity to the one who is playing, yet also to those listening.

Antonios Iliou Guitarist/Singer

Antonios Iliou, guitarist/singer, was born in Piraeus, Greece and for the last 26 years he has been living in New York. He plays the guitar since he was 18 years old and specializes in the traditional Greek music, popular songs of Gounari and Marouda, dimotika, and kantades, and participates as soloist together with other group of musicians in numerous community musical programs of Greek organizations and churches.

Peter Sokaris Guitarist

Peter Sokaris of Greek descent, hails from Albany, New York where he developed a lifelong interest in playing the guitar and enjoying the "the Greek songs" -- ta Elinika tragoudia -- of Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hatzidakis, and Stavros Xarhakos combined with the poetry of Yannis Ritsos, George Seferis, and Odysseus Elytis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College with a major in Philosophy and Juris Doctor Degree from Western New England College, School of Law. He is an Administrative Law Judge with the New York State Department of Labor, is a member of Albany's St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, and is a frequent commuter to Astoria, New York where he makes music with the Hellenic Music Foundation.

Eleni Traganas Concert Pianist & Lecturer

Eleni Traganas has enjoyed a distinguished international career as a concert pianist and visual artist. Born in New York City, she entered the legendary School of Performing Arts at the age of 13, and went on to study under scholarship at The Juilliard School where she was awarded the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. With postgraduate studies undertaken at the Volkwang Musikhochschule in Essen, Germany and Switzerland's Lucerne Conservatory, her mentors have included such luminaries as Paul Badura-Skoda, Mieczyslaw Horszowski, Nadia Reisenberg, Beveridge Webster, and Eugene List. Since her stunning solo debut which was hailed by The New York Times for its "temperament, intensity and impressive dramatic impetus," Ms. TRAGANAS has given innumerable acclaimed performances in such venues as Alice Tully Hall, Town Hall, Carnegie Recital Hall, London's Wigmore Hall, Berlin, Athens, and many of the major music capitals of Europe, where she has also performed under the aegis of the US State Department. Of her participation in the International Festival of American Music in Bonn, critics applauded her "astonishing command and limitless range of emotion combined in an overwhelmingly unique and individual style" (Bonner Rundschau). She has appeared with the Athens State Orchestra, the Israel Sinfonietta, the Municipal Concerts Orchestra of NY, the Northern State Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Salonika, and other ensembles, and is an active chamber recitalist and lecturer with New York's premier arts group, RIDOTTO. Recordings include EMI Athens, WDR West German Broadcasting Co. Cologne, National Radio & Television of Greece, WQXR and many others. As an award-winning fine artist, her works have appeared in over 40 nationally-curated museums and galleries, and her varied activities have earned her listings in Who's Who of American Women and Who's Who In America, among other biographical publications. For more information check out: www.PaintingsDirect.com www.CLWAC.org www.RIDOTTO.org

Styliani Tartsinis Saxophone virtuoso

Styliani Tartsinis, Greek-born and American-trained, performed along as a soloist with orchestra, recitalist and chamber musician. She studied with the legendary saxophonist, Sigurd Rascher, the most important artist in the history of the classical saxophone, following studies at the Manhattan School of Music. She has been heard on International and National Radio that includes the National Public Radio in Israel, Dutch Radio, NYC's WQXR and WKCR, live on both the National Public Radio and the Greek-American Broadcasts. She has performed at Carnegie Recital Hall, Riverside Church (NYC), downtown new music sceneat the Greenwich HouseMusic School, DCTV and LaMama featured in Festa Primavera: A Night at Olde Turne Hall with the Carnival of Venice, and performances in concert halls from New York City to California. She has recorded on composer Lior Navok's CD Hidden Reflections. Premieres include works specifically written for her by Lior Navok, Phillip Mantione, and Mark Zuckerman. She is credited for the East Coast premiere of Dimitri Terzakis' Der Holle Nachkland. Her concerts have received numerous standing ovations. Ms. Tartsinis is constantly challenging and expanding the perceived limits of her instrument, as a performer of new music, world music, styles from other performance periods, and collaborations with composers resulting in works specifically written for her. Ms. Tartsinis' innovating programming includes a Tribute to Sigurd Rascher, Melodies and Dazzlers, Duo with guitar, and programs of various styles. "An energetic young saxophone playerŠ.I recommend Ms. Tartsinis" -Sigurd M. Rascher, Legendary Saxophonist -Pioneer of the Saxophone "Tartsinis is fully justified in billing herself as a "saxophone Virtuoso" "an all-out, no-holds-barred, very impressive performance" Edith Eisler, New York Concert Review

Georgios Spentzouris Trumpet

Georgios Spentzouris was born in Kalamata, Greece and raised there for most of his life. In 1999, he came to live in New York with his parents and to study at Stony Brook University where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Pharmacology and a minor in Health and Wellness and plans to attend medical school in the fall of 2003. At Stony Brook, he became involved in many societies, such as serving as the vice president for Alpha Epsilon Delta Premedical Honor Society, as the senior representative web page designer for Golden Key International Honour Society, as the events coordinator for Sigma Beta Honor Society, and as the secretary for both the Pharmacology Society and the Artemis Hellenic Society. Outside of the university, his interest concentrate in music. George's father, was a professional musician, and as a result, George was surrounded by the sweet melodies of his saxophone and clarinet. At the age of nine, he took up the trumpet, and even though it was nearly as big as he was, George was determined to make beautiful music with it so that he could join his father in his performances. Now, nearly fourteen years later, he is priviledged to have played first trumpet in the Greek Philarmonica of Kalamata and the marching band in Greece, and to have participated in the music program at Stony Brook University. In addition to playing the trumpet, he is a tenor at St. Catherine's Greek Orthodox Church choir. As he looks back on his experiences with the Philarmonica, the special family occasions where he played duets with his father, and the myriad of Sundays devoted to chanting, he realizes how music is a large part of who he is, and without it life just would not be complete!

Christina Maria Guibas Pianist

Christina Maria Guibas, became interested in piano at the age of four when she asked to sit at the piano bench with John Chin, a popular piano-bar entertainer. John met Christina and her parents as they were dining in a New Jersey restaurant where he was playing. That night, John showed Christina how to play a little harmony on a duet of "New York, New York". Christina realized then that she loved playing the piano and the audience loved her. She began her formal training in Westfield, New Jersey at age six with the gentle guidance of her current teacher, Mark Italiano. In 1997, at age eight, Christina entered her first piano competition, The Polish Cultura Society's Competition in Clark, New Jersey. She garnered an honorable mention and was determined to improve her skills. In 1999, she entered the Stryjniak Competition held in the beautiful Polish Embassy on Madison Avenue in New York City. She found herself competing with extremely proficient young pianists from the tri-state area. She won a cash prize and began her piano studies with Jerzy Stryjniak at his school at 321 East 69th Street in Manhattan. Mr. Stryjniak gave Christina the piano poise that she demonstrates today and instilled in her a love for the music of Chopin. In 2000, Christina had the opportunity to study with Yelena Ivanov, a Russian pianist now teaching in New Jersey. Madame Ivanov is a master teacher who helped Christina with her technique. Last year, Christina participated in concerts at Steinway Hall, Cami Hall, and Ryder University. Her other interests include ballet study with the New Jersey Ballet Company. She is in one of their intensive ballet programs this year and will perform with the company at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey this December. Christina is an honor student at Park Junior High School in Scotch Plains, New Jersey and a cheerleader. Her team, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders, is undefeated for the second season.

Alessandra Lykogiannis Pianist

Alessandra Lykogiannis, a 5th grade student at ALT elementary school, is a student of Yelena Ivanov. She has been studying piano for 4 1/2 years and has won many competitions in that short amount of time, including 1st Place in the Young Pianist Composition of New Jersey. Although only 11 years old, she has already performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall three times as a winner. She has also won other competitions and auditions including the Somerset County Library Piano Competition and the NJ MTNA high honor recitals. Alessandra's performances have been described as having a "good sense of style", "what spirit!" "Very sensitive playing and exciting contrast of dynamics". Alessandra's other interests are soccer, theater and art. She plays defense on a traveling soccer team, and recently received rave reviews as the lead in her school play.

George Lykogiannis Pianist

The 2002 Gold Prize winner of the Young Pianist Competition of New Jerseyıs Concerto Division, George Lykogiannis gave his United States Orchestra debut with the Plainfield Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Sabin Pautza in November of 2003. He has performed with the Giavane Sinfonietta Clodiense, under the direction of Roberto Boarini, during the summer of 2000, when he was the first prize Junior Division Concerto Competition winner of the Festival "Musica in Laguna", Chioggia, Italy. Mr. Lykogiannis has performed at such prestigious concert venues as Weill Recital Hall (Carnegie Hall), Cami Hall, Steinway Hall, and The Christ & St. Stephenıs Church (New York City); Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church in Plainfield, NJ; The Community Theatre of Morristown, Kean Universityıs Wilkins Theatre, and the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center of Bridgewater where he gave solo concerts in 2002 & 2004. He has also been a featured artist on WQXR radioıs Young Artistsı Showcase program. Throughout July of 2003, Mr. Lykogiannis studied at the prestigious New Jerseyıs Governorıs School of the Arts. In 2002 & 2003, he was awarded scholarships as a Silver Prizewinner in the Steinway Society Competition. Other awards include the Young Pianist Competition of New Jersey (1997-2003), Andrew De Grado Piano Competition (1999 & 2000) solo division as well as a special Schumann and Rachmaninoff awards and 1st place in "Sights and Sounds", a celebration of 16 New Jersey Greek Orthodox churches talented youth. In 2001, 2002 & 2003, Mr. Lykogiannis was chosen to join some of New Jerseyıs brightest young musicians to partake in the Teen Arts Festival in Trenton. In October of 2001 he performed at the first Hellenic Music Foundationıs Young Artist Showcase at Cami Hall. In January of 2001, Mr. Lykogiannis was one of only five young artists showcased in the Crescent Concert Series at the Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church and was asked to give an encore performance there again in April. In the spring of 2000 & 2002 he performed at the Piano Teachersı Congress of New Yorkıs Young Pianistsıs Honor Recitals. George Lykogiannis is a Watchung Hills Regional High School senior. He studies piano privately with Yelena Ivanov and Lana Ivanov. During summers of 1999, 2000 & 2002 he participated in Festival "Musica in Lagunaıs" Forum Pianistico del Corsi Internazionali Musicali Estivi, where he participated in master classes of Konstantin Bogino as well as worked with conductors Pietro Perini and Roberto Boarini during the orchestra workshop program at the Festival. In 2003, Mr. Lykogiannis was accepted to participate at the Shandelee Music Festival, where he worked with Yong Hi Moon and Alexander Slobodyanik, as well as in master class with Earl Wild.

Ioannis Potamoussis Pianist

Born in Athens in 1972, Ioannis Potamoussis was initiated into the study of piano at the age of 13. Originally by Ms. Ph. Papadaki and then by Ms. Th. Mira, at the Piraeus Federation Conservatory, from where he graduated magna cum laude, having unanimously been awarded the 1st prize and a golden medal in January 1995. In that same year, he auditioned for and was accepted to the Cologne Music University (class of R. Gediga). In July 1997 he graduated at the top of his class, having accumulated the most marks among all of his classmates. To pursue his studies, leading to the obtainment of the High Soloist Diploma under the same teacher, a scholarship that was granted by the Greek State Scholarships Foundation. He obtained the diploma "Konzertexamen" (High Soloist Diploma) "Outstanding" in October 2000 and is now studying at The Mannes College of Music with P. Dokovska.. He has attended various seminars by renowned Greek and foreign artists (A. Garoufalis, D. Evnouhidou, A Rabinovich, P.L. Aiuard, R. Kerrer, B. Ringeisseu, and A. Loquich). Ioannis Potamoussis, in a Mozart competition organized by the Kolnischer Academy in 1995, placed second and 1996 he was awarded the Mykoniou Prize at the piano contest organized by the Athens Academy. In 1997 he was awarded a prize by the Marteau Association of Music Friends in Lichetmberg (Germany) and in December 1998 he was awarded the second prize (no first prize conceded as of that event) at the 1st Balkan Piano Contest in Patras (Greece). Ever since 1995, Ioannis Potamoussis has been featured in recitals and chamber music concerts in Greece (Festival of Symi, Festival of Prespes among others), France (Paris- Unesco) and Germany (The Kolnischer Philharmonic, the Berlin Concert Hall, and the concert halls of the Universities of Cologne and Bonn). As a soloist, he has been featured in the "Cologne University Orchestra", in the "Collegium Musicum" under C. Gatman, the "North Rheinland-Westfallien Orchestra" under U. Muenz, the "Altstadt Philarmoniker Cologne" under R. Heuckman, the "Athens State Orchestra" under H. Ionescu-Galati and the "Soloists of Patra" under P. Sergiou. Ioannis has also recorded works for both piano solo and chamber music for the WDR Koely (West Germany Radio) and for the state radio of Piraeus (Greece). Yannis Xylas Pianist Yannis Xylas was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece. He studied piano with Nikos Astrinidis and received his Diploma with Honors from the Macedonian Conservatory of Music. He has performed extensively in Greece, mainly in concerts for Two Pianos, premiering W. Bolcom's RECUERDOS in Greece, among other works, a concert that was televised. He was also rehearsal pianist and assistant chorus master for the Lyrical Opera Chorus of Thessaloniki for six years. He currently resides in New York and has been associated with MidAmerica Productions (American premiere of Theodorakis' opera Electra, Ermione and Opera Aegean), Opera Orchestra of New York, New York Grand Opera and Lubo Opera (American premiere of Kalman's 1928 Operetta Die Herzogin von Chicago) as rehearsal pianist, chorus master and assistant conductor. In 1999 he made his Lincoln Center (Avery Fischer Hall) debut in New York in the triple capacity of performer, orchestrator and artistic director in a concert featuring Greek classical music. He also appeared in Washington's Kennedy Center in a similar concert, bringing Greek music to the Center for the first time. Mr. Xylas performed extensively in the USA, Greece, India and Spain, collaborating with singers, instrumentalists and orchestras, mastering an extensive repertoire of opera, oratorio, operetta, lied and specializing in rarely performed music and Greek classical music. As an organist, he has played the great organs of St. Patrick's Cathedral and St. Bartholomew's. He is also vice president of the Hellenic Music Foundation, a freelance orchestrator and Artistic Director of the Pan American Symphony Orchestra. He has recently performed with the orchestra the 2nd Piano Concerto and Rhapsodie d'Auvergne by C. Saint-Saëns. Last, but not least, he holds a Geology Degree from the Aristotelean University of Thessaloniki and a Graduate Gemologist Diploma. He is also featured in the International Biographical Center's "Who is Who in the 21st Century"