Municipal Music School "Georgios Axiotis"

Municipal Music School

Historical Overview

The Municipal Music School “Georgios Axiotis” was officially founded in 1990 (Government Gazette 558 31/05/1990), but the processes for establishing the school began much earlier.

The idea for its creation came from the late Mr. Petros Tolis, who served as its President for many years. During a trip with his wife to Corfu, watching the parade of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Corfu, he was enthused by the musicians, their colorful uniforms, and the joyful melodies in the cobblestone streets of the island. The inspiration quickly became a reality with the help of his friend and then Mayor, Mr. Mathios Apostolou.

Immediately after the first concert at the Lakka Theater in 1985, where the invited artists were Antonis Kaloyannis and Dimitris Lagios, they jointly decided to create the Municipal Music School “Georgios Axiotis” with funding from themselves and a small contribution from the students’ parents, as at that time there was no possibility of funding from the Municipality of Mykonos. Thus, the first pianos were purchased. Mr. Tolis, driven by love and passion for music, made sure to bring music teachers, musical instruments, and costumes for the children of the philharmonic.

The first Artistic Director was Dimitris Lagios from 1985 to 1990. The purpose of the School was to develop and promote the cultural spirit and level of the island by providing music education to young people.

The Music School had the fortune and honor to have many very notable professors teach there, such as Mrs. Eleni Stoyianni, Mrs. Vicky Charisi, Mr. Spyros Flourakis, Mrs. Bessy Nassi, Mrs. Marianna Katerellou, Mrs. Vana Panagiotou, Mr. Manos Vasilopoulos, Mrs. Evi Karytzi, Mr. Alexis Masmanidis, Mrs. Eva Vasilopoulou, Mrs. Maria Dovelou, Mr. Christoforos Tsounis, Mrs. Maria Kostaveli, Mr. Dimitrios Tzimopoulos, Mrs. Paraskevi Vamvakari, Mrs. Maria Marmani, Mr. Dimitris Savvas, Mrs. Aphrodite Strataki, Mrs. Tina Psalida, and Mr. Babis Amoiridis, while the musical instruments taught at various times include piano, guitar, violin, bouzouki, tzouras, baglamas, percussion, wind instruments, music theory, and others.

The “Mykonos Choir” and the “Children’s Choir” participate in various events and very notable performances throughout the year both in and outside of Mykonos, with Mrs. Tina Psalida as their director.

The Municipal Music School was initially housed in the Zervoudakis-Inglesis buildings in Matogianni and from 1985 belonged to KDEPPAM, while since 2011 it has belonged to the Cultural, Athletic, and Social Organization “Georgios Axiotis”. After the premature loss of Dimitris Lagios in 1990, Maestro Kostis Konstantaras took over the Artistic Direction until 2012.

Since 2012, the Artistic Direction of the Music School has been undertaken voluntarily by guitar professor Mr. Babis Amoiridis.

The regular concerts of the Music School during the year are two or three concerts during the months of April – May by the musical ensembles and the children’s choir as well as the Mykonos choir. A concert by the young soloists of the Music School is held in June and the Christmas concert in December.

These events are complemented by special appearances and collaborations with Greek and foreign artists and ensembles, while often throughout the year there are activities related to the social responsibility of the Organization, such as concerts aimed at collecting clothing, food, medicines, and other products for socially vulnerable groups, as well as actions for the young residents of the municipal daycare centers on the island to bring them closer to the art of Music.