CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL MUSICIANS

After the successful sold-out performance of chamber music, the show “Contemporary … Classical Musicians” continues for one more evening.

Two young musicians, Michalis Stefanakis on piano and Michalis Gennadis on violin, present works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Benjamin Godard, Robert Schumann, and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

The two Michalises remain devoted to classical music and dare to present chamber music at the PLYFA multipurpose space, addressing an audience with musical curiosity, even if it is not accustomed to classical sounds.

Believing that classical music is neither rigid nor distant, the two musicians present works from the Classical and Romantic periods, hoping their energy will touch the souls of their listeners.

Michalis Stefanakis

Michalis Stefanakis began piano and theory lessons in Heraklion, Crete, and received diplomas in harmony and piano from the Apollo Conservatory – Musical Society (Patricia Arena’s class). He continued studying piano and chamber music alongside his law studies in Athens. He earned a piano diploma from the Athens Conservatory (Theodoros Tzovanakis’s class) and continues his studies under the guidance of Marina Lamprinoudi. He received recognition at the Van Cliburn International Competition for amateur pianists in Fort Worth, Texas, in October 2022. A graduate of the Law School of the University of Athens and the University of Michigan, he works as a director in the international taxation department of Deloitte in Athens.

Michalis Gennadis

Michalis Gennadis started his musical journey at a young age, with the violin as his main instrument. He studied in Athens at the National Conservatory, earning his Diploma with the highest distinction, First Prize, and an award for outstanding performance under Dimitris Angelidis. He has attended seminars with esteemed violinist Bartek Niziol and continues under internationally renowned violinist Giorgos Demertzis, specializing in chamber music. Alongside violin, he studied Advanced Theory with Giorgos Minas, achieving a Fugue diploma with top honors. His artistic pursuits also led him to contemporary music through singing and electric bass, both of which he studied at the National Conservatory. As a violinist, he has collaborated with chamber music orchestras, contemporary music ensembles, and performed as a young artist at festivals in the city of Mezin, France. He teaches violin at the National Conservatory of Ilioupoli and the Attic Conservatory of Kypseli.

Duration: 80 minutes with an intermission

Special thanks to Spyros Nakas for the sponsorship of the piano and to the National Conservatory of Ilioupoli for their support.

Photography: Marilena Anastasiadou