Greek evening

Christos Grimpas -violoncello

Christos Grimpas studied at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki (prof. D. Patras) and the Universität der Künste in Berlin, further receiving his postgraduate music degree from the Folkwang Hochschule Essen (class V. Mendelssohn).  He has been a member of the Rhineland Youth Orchestra, the International Youth Orchestra and the European Union Youth Orchestra. Awards include prizes (Pan-Hellenic Competition for Young Soloists 1997, International Chamber Music Competition of HELEXPO 1998) as well as merit scholarships (Music Friends Society of Athens, the “Alexandra Trianti” Trust and the “Alexandros Onasis” Foundation).

He has performed as soloist with the State Orchestra of Thessaloniki, the Municipal Orchestra of Thessaloniki, the Municipal Orchestra of Pazardchik, the Sofia Symphony Orchestra, the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Dnipro and Kharkiv philarmonic. He has also recorded with the Greek Radio Symphony Orchestra.

He currently performs as a regular member of the State Orchestra of Thessaloniki.

He is a founding member of the “Transcription Ensemble” with performances in various international venues such as the Tate Modern in London, the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, the Megaron in Athens etc.

George – Emmanuel Lazaridis -piano

George – Emmanuel Lazaridis was born in Greece, in 1978.  He started appearing in public from the age of eight years old and has since received a plethora of international prizes, honorary awards and scholarships. A graduate of the Royal College of Music and the Trinity Laban Conservatory in London, he was mentored by Yonty Solomon, Douglas Finsh and Domna Evnouhidou, while he also worked alongside Alfred Brendel, Ruth Nye, Paul Badura Skoda and Noretta Conci Leech. During 35 years of constant presence on the international music scene, Lazaridis has enjoyed a flourishing career that has taken him from USA and Mexico to Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt and the Middle East. He has conquered demanding audiences in some of the most prestigious venues world wide, such as the Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Musikverein etc. Lazaridis has collaborated as soloist with world class orchestras such as the St Petersburg Philharmonic, Hamburg Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic and many more, under the direction of Sir Neville Marriner, Ingo Metzmacher, Yuri Temirkanov and other legendary conductors. He has also performed in chamber music concerts alongside renowned ensembles such as the Medici Quartet, the Ysaye Quartet, the Vienna Octet etc. His various CD releases have been rapturously received, with five-star reviews from the press.  He is co-founder of the ADAP Association and the Music-Village International Festival, as well as a member of the renowned 4 Pianos ensemble, alongside Giannis Vakarelis, Cyprien Katsaris and Achilleas Wastor. He has given Masterclasses at Trinity Laban, Birmingham City University, Castellon Music Academy, Manhattan School of Music and many more. He taught at the Greek State Conservatory for four years and has recently been appointed full-time Assistant Professor at the University of Macedonia.

He served as Artistic Director of the Thessaloniki Concert Halls Organization (Megaro) from 2010 until 2019, where he led the creation of new institutions such as the Megaro Children’s Choir Festival and an el-sistema inspired Youth Symphony Orchestra, “MOYSA”, with the support of the Niarchos Foundation. He has also served as music director of the Demetria Festival (2011-2013) and general director of the State Conservatory of Greece (2019-2020).