From Kythera to Boston: The Greek pianist setting fire to classical music

·

By Anna Cominos

At 25, Alexandros Kyriakopoulos has already carved out a career that places him amongst the most promising Greek pianists with international acclaim. 

His ambition remains clear and humble: to prove that classical music does not belong to a privileged few – it belongs to everyone and deserves to remain vital, contemporary and spiritually up-lifting.

Alexandros has already appeared on many world stages. His repertoire spans from Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, Chopin, Prokofiev to many Greek composers.   

At selected moments, improvisation serves as a breath of fresh air, a reminder that music remains alive and unpredictable. 

For Alexandros, “classical music is not a staid museum piece. It is actually the language of life that cultivates imagination, focus, critical thinking and spiritual awakening. I am not interested in simply playing technically correct. For me what matters is creating that moment where the listener feels something enliven within.” 

Born in Athens and raised on the beautiful but remote isle of Kythera, just south of the Peloponnese, Alexandros was fortunate to witness the power of staggering natural beauty throughout his childhood. 

The son of Tamworth born Australian-Greek magazine publisher, Metaxia (Sia) Poulos, and Arcadian born Construction Supervisor, Dimitri Kyriakopoulos, Alexandros has a unique vision of the human experience. Having been influenced by two distinct worlds that melded together, Alexandros has developed a heightened listening ability that transcends his bicultural ethnicity. 

By the tender age of five, Alexandros embarked on his musical journey commencing his first piano lessons at Kythera’s Odeion (music conservatory). 

Later, driven by his commitment to excel, Alexandros and his family made the decisive move to Athens in order to pursue an advanced music and high school education. His remarkable skills and talent earned him a Diploma in Piano with Distinction from the Greek Ministry of Culture at the age of 18.  

In the year 2020, Alexandros successfully auditioned for Boston Conservatory in Massachusetts, USA, where he earned a tuition scholarship and additional financial support from the Leventis Foundation and the Nicholas Aroney Trust. 

Alexandros’ presence in the United States, at this high-level musical community, allowed him to build on his music foundations, develop an extensive repertoire and most importantly perform continually as a concert pianist in Boston, New York City, Italy, Spain, Puerto Rico, Australia and throughout Greek cities such as Athens, Alexandroupoli, Karditsa, Kythera, Larissa, Trikala and Thessaloniki. 

His musicality has resonated across international borders. With every performance, Alexandros leaves a lasting mark on his audiences captivating hearts and souls with his extraordinary artistry.

Alexandros believes that “art is not decoration; it’s a structural element of society.”

This philosophy permeates both his performances and educational work where he helps students and music lovers of all ages gain an insight into the power of the piano. He believes that classical music is a mode of freedom and expression and not a culturally elitist art form.

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Latest News

Under a blazing sun, Melbourne’s Greeks show up for Independence Day in thousands

Thousands turned out for Melbourne’s Greek Independence Day parade, braving the heat in a powerful display of pride.

WA honours Greek Independence Day with memorial service and community events

A wreath laying ceremony was held at the State War Memorial on Sunday, March 22, to commemorate Greek Independence Day.

Queensland marks Greek National Day with faith, tradition and youth at the forefront

Queensland marked Greek Independence Day with a church service, wreath laying and student performances. Read more here.

Canberra to mark Greek National Day with historic Carillon tribute and citywide illuminations

Canberra will make history with having one of seven Carillonists around Australia perform to play the Australian and Greek National Anthems.

The next generation reshaping the Cyprus Community of NSW

A profound demographic shift of The Cyprus Community of NSW reshapes its membership, future direction, infrastructure and purpose.

You May Also Like

Greece to build “floating barrier system” to prevent migrants entering by sea

The government in Greece wants to use a floating barrier to help stop migrants from reaching the Greek islands from the nearby coast of Turkey.

Melbourne bayside suburb to commemorate Imbros and the ANZAC connection

Sunday, March 23 will witness the unveiling of a special plaque in Hampton in recognition of the role of Imbros in the Gallipoli campaign.

Greeks take out awards for the best jaffles and hot chips in Australia

Greek Australians have been named the winners in the 'best hot chips' and 'best jaffles' categories of the Wotif Uniquely Aussie Awards.