George Kontogiorgos
- Music Department
Born in Lamia, Hellas (Greece), he studied music theory and composition
with Alexander Aenian. During the 60s and 70s, he had a successful
carrier as songwriter, music arranger and orchestra conductor of music
ensembles, in studios of the major Hellenic record companies. He
recorded more than 70 ballades and popular songs for well-known popular
singers. One of his songs is included in a golden album. He also
arranged more than 250 songs by many other composers including the
Oscar Award winner Manos Hatzidakis. He
also wrote music for the theater, the 3rd radio channel and soundtracks
for the movies: Bordello (1985) director
Nikos Koundouros and TV series:
Madam Sousou (1986), by
Dimitris Psathas (novel) and
Nikos Tsiforos, director
Thanasis Papageorgiou,
and Theater: My Fair Lady (1964) by
Alan Jay Lerner (book), and
George Bernard Shaw, with
Aliki Vougiouklaki, director
Dimitris Papamichael (1973-1974).
The Threepenny Opera (1931) by
Bertolt Brecht, director
Nikos Koundouros (1980),
From 1980 and then, he devoted himself systematically to the composition of classical music. He has written several works for solo instruments, orchestral ensembles, chamber orchestra, string quartet, concertos for piano and for guitar, and vocal works too. He is recipient of 4 International Prizes and Awards for his compositions including the 1st Prize from the Classical Marimba League,International Composition Competition 2007, USA, in the Classical style category. During the recent years, his compositions were performed by ensembles and orchestras, such as the New Hellenic String Quartet, the Bridge Quartet, the Camerata Orchestra of Fiends of Music, conducted by Alexander Myrat (Hellas), the Colour's Orchestra, conducted by Miltos Logiadis (Hellas), the Patras' Orchestra conducted by himself (Hellas), the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Poland), conducted by Jan Baryla the International Doctor's Philarmonia Giuseppe Sinopoli, conducted by Silvio Bruni (Italy), and the Tapiola Sinfonietta, conducted by David Caludio (Finland), and soloists through performances, such as baritone Spyros Sakkas (Hellas), percussionists Beverley Johnston (Canada), Demetris Desyllas (Hellas) and Ryszard Habe (Poland), violinists George Demertzis and Sergiu Nastasa (Hellas), pianists Maria Asteriadou (USA) and Kostas Loukos (Hellas), Lorenta Ramou (Greece), guitarist Pavlos Kanellakis (Hellas) and organist Paul Ayres (UK). Premieres of his music from include venues such as St. George's Cathedral (London, UK), the Megaron Athens Concert Hall (Athens, Hellas), Jagiellonian University Botanic Garden, Gallicia Museum and St. Peter's and Paul's Basilica (Krakow, Poland), Basilica di St. Lorenzo (Florence, Italy), Tapiola Concert Hall, Espoo-Helsinki (Finland), Uxbridge Music Hall (Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada), Crawford Municipality Art Gallery (Cork, Ireland), Sandy Ford Church (Dublin, Ireland) and Morphy Hall (Madison, Wisconsin, USA).
From 1980 and then, he devoted himself systematically to the composition of classical music. He has written several works for solo instruments, orchestral ensembles, chamber orchestra, string quartet, concertos for piano and for guitar, and vocal works too. He is recipient of 4 International Prizes and Awards for his compositions including the 1st Prize from the Classical Marimba League,International Composition Competition 2007, USA, in the Classical style category. During the recent years, his compositions were performed by ensembles and orchestras, such as the New Hellenic String Quartet, the Bridge Quartet, the Camerata Orchestra of Fiends of Music, conducted by Alexander Myrat (Hellas), the Colour's Orchestra, conducted by Miltos Logiadis (Hellas), the Patras' Orchestra conducted by himself (Hellas), the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Poland), conducted by Jan Baryla the International Doctor's Philarmonia Giuseppe Sinopoli, conducted by Silvio Bruni (Italy), and the Tapiola Sinfonietta, conducted by David Caludio (Finland), and soloists through performances, such as baritone Spyros Sakkas (Hellas), percussionists Beverley Johnston (Canada), Demetris Desyllas (Hellas) and Ryszard Habe (Poland), violinists George Demertzis and Sergiu Nastasa (Hellas), pianists Maria Asteriadou (USA) and Kostas Loukos (Hellas), Lorenta Ramou (Greece), guitarist Pavlos Kanellakis (Hellas) and organist Paul Ayres (UK). Premieres of his music from include venues such as St. George's Cathedral (London, UK), the Megaron Athens Concert Hall (Athens, Hellas), Jagiellonian University Botanic Garden, Gallicia Museum and St. Peter's and Paul's Basilica (Krakow, Poland), Basilica di St. Lorenzo (Florence, Italy), Tapiola Concert Hall, Espoo-Helsinki (Finland), Uxbridge Music Hall (Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada), Crawford Municipality Art Gallery (Cork, Ireland), Sandy Ford Church (Dublin, Ireland) and Morphy Hall (Madison, Wisconsin, USA).