New scholars of the Young Musicians’ Academy
New scholars, according to the category of instrument (in alphabetic order) are the following:
FLUTE
- Ventouri Roussou Konstantina
- Golia Martha
- Zineli Anna
- Bourla Anastasia
HORN
- Lagou Evaggelia
- Motsenigou Nafsika-Anna
- Poulimenos Spyridon
- Sapounas Miltiadis
TRUMPET
- Emexezidis Christos
- Noulas Apostolos
CLARINET
- Andreadis Petros
- Giannakas Panagiotis
- Ioannou Stylianos
- Fotis Zaharias
BASSOON
- Koufalakos Dimitrios
- Spyropoulos Andreas-Emmanouil
- Fotopoulos Anastasios
OBOE
- Troulou Makrina
The Young Musicians’ Academy of the Athens State Orchestra operated for the first time during the Artistic-Academic year 2016 – 2017 and is presently moving towards its second one, thanks to the kind grant of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Congratulations to all young musicians who took part in the auditions. We wholeheartedly wish them a great success.
Call for expressions of interest
For Marketing companies
The Athens State Orchestra is calling for expressions of interest for Marketing companies, who could assume the reinforcement of the advertising of the identity of the Orchestra as well as of its events, during, primarily, the upcoming, winter artistic period 2017-2018 with the possibility of renewal of the collaboration.
Applicants should take into consideration the following:
1. The contribution of the Company which will finally be chosen to collaborate with the Athens State Orchestra will concern mainly a) the reinforcement of the advertising of the identity of the organization and b) diverse ways of advertising each concert of the Athens State Orchestra.
2. The next winter artistic period, the Athens State Orchestra will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its foundation.
3. Besides its regular concerts in its permanent home, which is the Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall, as well as its chamber music concerts in collaboration mainly with the most important Museums of Athens, these last years the Athens State Orchestra has developed a very impressive social and educational program with concerts and ateliers inside and outside Athens.
4. A distinct part of this program is the Young Musicians’ Academy of the Athens State Orchestra, the very promising program for professional tuition of musicians, which the Orchestra started implementing progressively from last year, thanks to the kind grant of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
5. A basic characteristic of the next artistic period is the development of the conquests of the previous three-year period: With the recently renewed mandate of its Director, Stephanos Tsialis, the Orchestra looks towards the future, being aware of its role (as the first in order Orchestra in Greece) and its mission (which consists in the interpretation of the great symphonic repertory, but also the support of the Greek artistic potential). At the same time, it aims at the formation of a constantly increasing and more devoted audience, especially at the young generation.
6. The diligence of the visual identity of the artistic period 2017-2018 (printed programs, posters, banners) has been assigned in G Design Studio, with which the concessionaire company will owe to be in a perfect collaboration, as well as with the Press Office of the Athens State Orchestra.
7. The whole planning of the advertising campaign of the Orchestra for the upcoming season should not primarily exceed in total the amount of 40,000 euros (final cost, including, among others, the advertising space and time as well as all legal charges).
Considering all the above points, applicants should:
Submit in written form until Monday, August 31th, 2017 their detailed proposal or proposals (including the detailed cost per action or per advertising activity) as well as their company’s information and identity. The relevant applications may be submitted either by email at info@koa.gr, or by postal mail at the Athens State Orchestra office, inside the Megaron - The Athens Concert Hall (Vas. Sofias & Kokkali, 11521, Athens); in both cases applications need to indicate “For the Athens State Orchestra call for expressions of interest”.
From all submitted applications, the three most interesting and compatible to the activity of the Athens State Orchestra will be chosen and applicants who will proceed to the next phase will be asked to participate in a meeting with the Direction of the Orchestra on Thursday, September 7th, 2017, in which a complete presentation of the proposal will take place and possible necessary explanations will be given.
Further information on the activities of the Athens State Orchestra may be requested by calling the Athens State Orchestra, +30 210 7257601-3.
Cancelled: Martha Argerich concert
Due to serious health issues, the internationally acclaimed soloist Martha Argerich will be unable to perform at the Athens State Orchestra concert that was scheduled to take place on July 15, 2017, at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Consequently, the Athens & Epidaurus Festival and the Athens State Orchestra have decided to cancel the concert, hoping to reschedule at some point in the near future and wishing the artist a speedy recovery.
The audience is entitled to a refund as follows:
For tickets purchased with cash: Please visit the Festival central box office (Panepistimiou 39, inside the Pesmazoglou arcade, work days 09:00-16:00 and Saturday 10:00-15:00).
For tickets purchased with credit or debit cards: Cancelled tickets are automatically refunded.
Visual Communication Contest of A.S.O.
The Pink Box (of Solidarity)
Thus, the next step of our cultural synergy will take place during this period: Taking advantage of the first revenue gathered in our “Pink Box”, music ensembles of the Athens State Orchestra will be visiting schools of Attica region hosting young refugees, so as to give mini concerts and music workshops. Besides, Music is a magical “Esperanto”, a common language which is not subject to separations and barriers of any kind. Musical contribution, listening and performing is a way of communication more than direct; it’s genuine and free. Only a few notes are enough to turn Greek kids and Refugee kids, under the same baton and the same scores, in one soul, one coordinated breath. This is what we want. To offer the most direct bridge of communication and delight and, perhaps, to add a tiny link to the big chain of Solidarity and Hope.
Let us remind that the first contribution for our “Pink Box” came from the revenue of the event we organized in collaboration with the Fluxum Foundation and the Flux Laboratory on November 27th, at the Athens Concert Hall. There was a projection of Charlie Chaplin’s movie “The Immigrant”, accompanied by the original music of the Greek-French composer Stefanos Tsapis, interpreted by the Athens State Orchestra with the participation of the first students of the recently founded Young Musicians’ Academy of the Athens State Orchestra as well as of a Jazz ensemble (Dimitris Tsakas-saxophone, Dimitris Korontzis-electric guitar, Marc Buronfosse-electric bass and Arnaud Biscay- drums). Prior to this event, one of our music ensembles had visited the Refugee Reception Center in Lavrio and gave a concert for, but also with children hosted there. In the afternoon of the very same day, Charlie Chaplin’s film “The Immigrant” was projected, under the same musical “conditions”, at the Lavrion Technological and Cultural Park where refugees’ families were invited.
The essence of the experience gained from this co-organization was so touching for all of us that we decided to “turn on official” our cultural synergy with the Fluxum Foundation and the Flux Laboratory, planning much more to come besides our visits to schools…
May we have a nice trip!
Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, Henryk Górecki
Co-production with documenta 14 and Megaron-The Athens Concert Hall Organization.
Ticket information at 210 72 8
Athens String Quartet in Romania
The Concert Hall of Ateneul Roman in Bucharest, Romania.
AUDITIONS
The Athens State Orchestra is announcing a competition to fill six (6) positions for full-time artistic personnel (instruments). Applicants must submit their applications between Wednesday 6 April 2016 and 5 May 2016 (within thirty days).
The Athens State Orchestra is announcing competitions to fill six (6) positions for full-time artistic personnel (instruments).
A. Category III
a. One (1) position for Principal First oboe
b. One (1) position for Principal First French horn
B. Category IV
a. One (1) position for Assistant Principal viola
b. One (1) position for Assistant Principal in 2nd – 4th clarinet with obligatory bass clarinet
B. Category V
Two (2) positions for Musicians in the First Violins
Prospective candidates must:
1. In terms of citizenship:
a) Be Greek citizens or
b) citizens of EU member states or
c) Northern Epirotes, Greek Cypriots or ethnic Greeks from Istanbul, Imvros or Tenedos; certificates of Greek ethnicity are not required, given that the Greekness of their descent and consciousness can be demonstrated in other ways (Legislative Decree 3832/1958 – F?? 128/?/1958).
d) Naturalized Greeks who have been Greek nationals for over a year by the submission deadline can also apply.
2. Be aged 21 or over or, in the case of musicians whose talent is recognized, over 15.
3. Be healthy and physically capable or undertaking the duties that come with the position for which they are applying.
4. Not have any criminal convictions or legal proceedings pending against them or to have been partially or fully unfit to represent themselves in court (Article 1, clause 8 of Law 3528/2007).
5. Hold a diploma or degree in their instrument from a recognized music education institution in Greece or an equivalent diploma from an institution abroad.
The competitions will be held in Athens, in the Athens State Orchestra Rehearsal Room at the Athens Megaron Concert Hall.
The starting date for the auditions is 6 June 2016. The precise schedule for the auditions will be announced after the close of submissions.
Applicants must submit their applications between Wednesday 6 April 2016 and 5 May 2016 in one of the following ways:
• By submitting their application in person at the Athens State Orchestra offices (Vasilissis Sofias 86, 10 am-2 pm)
• By mailing their application to the Athens State Orchestra (Vasilissis Sofias 86, 115 28 Athens) on or before May 5, keeping the date-stamped post office receipt as prove of dispatch
• By emailing their application to the following email address: papostolidis@koa.gr
Printed application forms are available from the Athens State Orchestra offices; electronic forms can be downloaded here.
Prospective candidates should submit a CV along with their application, along with a copy of their diploma or degree in their area of specialization (instrument) from a recognized Greek music education institution or an equivalent diploma from an educational establishment abroad, along with any other material which sheds light on their artistic personality and abilities.
Any candidate applying as a recognized musical talent must submit evidence justifying this status along with their application.
According to the law, it is the Examination Committee that makes the final decision on whether an applicant can be considered a recognized musical talent or not. Having examined the supporting documents submitted by each candidate in this category (talent), the Committee in question will determine whether there is adequate evidence in this regard to permit the candidate to take part in the auditions
.
Failure to submit these documents together along with the application to take part in the competition means that any later claims to the status in question will be rejected.
Examination Material
According to decision ????/??????/?/35836/22-7-1999 of the Minister of Culture, the examination material per family of instruments and category of artistic personnel is as follows:
OBOE
Principal first violins
a) Concerto: STRAUSS, all movements
b) MOZART Concerto in C major KV 314 first movement with cadenza.
c) Extracts from orchestral works.
d) Sight reading.
FRENCH HORNS
Principal first horns
a) STRAUSS: Horn Concerto No. 1 or 2, all movements
b) MOZART Concerto No. 3 KV 477 or Concerto No. 4 KV 495, 1st movement with cadenza.
c) Extracts from orchestral works.
d) Sight reading.
VIOLAS
Principal second violas
a) Third and fourth movements from one of REGER’s suites.
b) Either the HOFMEISTER or STAMITZ concerto, first movement.
c) Extracts from orchestral works.
d) Sight reading.
CLARINETS
Principal second clarinets
a) WEBER: Concerto No. 2 op. 74 in E flat major, 1st and 2nd movements
b) MOZART Concerto in A major KV 622 1st movement with cadenza (on bass clarinet)
c) Extracts from orchestral works.
d) Sight reading.
VIOLINS
Musicians
a) One of the concerti WIENIAVVSKY No. 2, MENDELSSOHN, BRUCH, first movement with cadenza
b) MOZART: one of Concerto ?? 3 (in G), ?? 4 (in D), ?? 5 (in A), first movement with cadenza
c) Extracts from orchestral works (without the solos)
The orchestral excerpts will be available from the Athens State Orchestra offices from Tuesday 17 May (10 am-2 pm). They will also be posted on the Orchestra’s website.
Should a candidate be auditioning for two (2) positions, the examination for the second position will include only those parts of the examination material on which the candidate has not already been examined for their first position.
Candidates will be examined by the Examination Committee; there will be no audience present save members of the orchestra from the section being examined.
Successful candidates will receive a letter from the Administration Department of the Ministry of Culture & Sport, inviting them to submit all the documentation required by law.
From the Management of the Athens State Orchestra
“Right to Music”
Our popular “Right to Music” music program will be continuing for a second year thanks to the generosity of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Our Athens-based activities began in December and are now fully underway, while the program for the regions has just got underway.
First stop this year was the city of Preveza, where we worked with around 150 music students and the municipal conservatory. The Athens State Orchestra’s (K.O.A.) “Enodon” chamber ensemble gave a series of seminars and, in addition to the final concert, a further two open concerts/classes for local music lovers.
Within Athens, a number of A.S.O. ensembles—from duos to chamber orchestras—have been busy performing free concerts in special schools, children’s institutions, schools in depressed areas, children’s hospitals, correctional facilities for minors and therapeutic communities.
At the same time, small, flexible groups continue to pack their bags and visit cities in mainland Greece to perform concerts and offer free seminars to students from local conservatories and music schools.
Because here at the Athens State Orchestra, we never forget that access to music is a right everyone should enjoy.
The new Director of A.S.O.
Stefanos Tsialis is the new Director of A.S.O.
Mr. Stefanos Tsialis has been appointed as the new Director of the Athens State Orchestra by the Minister of Culture and Sports, Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos, after the expiration of Mr. Vassilis Christopoulos’ term of office on May 9th 2014.
Following the announcement of his appointment Mr. Tsialis said: "I am greatly honored and pleased to take up the Artistic Direction of the Athens State Orchestra. The notion of serving my homeland after many years of work abroad fills me with pride and sense of responsibility. I take over the Orchestra on a very good level after the significant accomplishment of the outgoing Artistic Director. I hope that, with the support of the Management Board of the A.S.O.’s Special Fund for Concert Organization, my colleagues in A.S.O. –musicians and all other officials – and our friends from the audience, I will contribute with new ideas to further promotion and progress of the first orchestra of Greece".