Music Connects the Onassis Stegi and the Panteion University, Vol. 10

“Music Connects the Onassis Stegi and the Panteion University,” the collaboration between the two institutions, marks its tenth consecutive edition this year. On the occasion of this anniversary, three young musicians were invited into a broader curatorial group to jointly shape this year’s program. The music proposals of this tenth collaboration take us on a journey to American highways and the mountain paths of the Balkans, as well as one-way streets across existence and daring excursions into spacetime.

1st Concert | 21:00 | “On the Road” / Following the Footsteps of Jack Kerouac

New music from US cities along the writer’s journey

In 1949, a group of young people embarked on their second journey from the East to the West Coast of the USA, as narrated by Jack Kerouac in the iconic “On the Road,” a novel that defined the Beat Generation. In 2025, the musicians of Galan Trio, who have been touring extensively in the USA in recent years, bring with them works from their repertoire by composers who live along—or near—Kerouac’s travel route. How do his footsteps sound today?

Program

• Todd Groves (stop: New York City, NY): “Dance Music for a Frenetic Mind” for piano trio (2022)
• Sophia Serghi (b. 1972) (stop: Williamsburg, VA): “Towards the Flame” for piano trio (2010)
• Yiorgos Vassilandonakis (b. 1969) (stop: Charleston, SC): “Cyanic Outbursts” for piano trio (2021)
• David Carter (stop: Los Angeles, CA): “Sifting Chaparral” for piano trio (2024)
• Cindy Cox (b. 1961) (stop: San Francisco, CA): “La mar amarga” for piano trio (2007)
• Galan Trio: Petros Bouras (piano), Babis Karasavvidis (violin), Marina Kolovou (cello)

The concert features excerpts from the book “On the Road” narrated by Jack Kerouac.

Curator: Lorenda Ramou

2nd Concert | 22:00 | “Off Road” / Balkan Glossolalias

A journey “East of the West” through the violin

From the Balkan north, works of different natures revolve (off-road) around the central protagonist, the violin, balancing between contemporary classical writing and the vibrant elements of the musical roots of these regions. Solo violin, electronics, and duets create a spiraling portrait of the instrument. Contemporary elements are followed by a deeper review of the shared musical idioms of the area through collaboration, alternation, and detachment.

Program

• Diana Rotaru (b. 1981) (Romania): “Glossolalia” for violin and electronics (2010)
• Danai Belosinof (b. 1993) (Bulgaria/Greece): “CRUNNING, for 2” for two violins, commissioned by Onassis Stegi (2025)
• Mihailo Trandafilovski (b. 1974) (North Macedonia/UK): “Mosaic” for two violins (2016)
• Tigran Mansurian (b. 1939) (Armenia): “Lamento” for violin (2002)
• Hanan Hadžajlić (b. 1991) (Bosnia and Herzegovina): “Ex Machina III” for violin and piano (2016)
• Soni Petrovski (b. 1977) (North Macedonia/Australia): “Bric-a-brac” for solo violin (2001)
• Vasilis Soukas (solo violin), Phaedon Miliadis (violin), Lydia Linardou (piano)

Curator: Iro Menegou

The concert features excerpts from the Greek translations of the books “East of the West” by Miroslav Penkov and “Catch the Rabbit” by Lana Bastašić narrated by Danai Belosinov and Filippos Raskovic.

3rd Concert | 21:00 | “Parallel Roads” / An Ordinary Day

Two parallel explorations of postmodernism for voice and cello

Two parallel beings contemplate life, death, and nature. The double recital “Parallel Roads” attempts to capture the psychological state of the moment where these two beings coexist mentally but never actually meet.

Program

• Caroline Shaw (b. 1982): “In manus tuas” for cello (2009)
• Meredith Monk (b. 1942): Selections from “Book of Days” for voice (1988)
• Kaija Saariaho (1952–2023): “Sept Papillons” for cello (2000)
• Filippos Sakagian (b. 1992): “metaph” for voice and electronics, commissioned by Onassis Stegi (2025)
• Ana Sokolović (b. 1968): “Vez” for cello (2005)
• Morton Feldman (1926–1987): “Only” for voice (1946, written for Joan La Barbara)
• Marios Maniatopoulos (tenor), Anastasia Deligiannaki (cello)

Curator: Pavlos Kordis

The concert features excerpts from the Greek translation of “Exercises in Style” by Raymond Queneau narrated by Manon Fabre.

4th Concert | 22:00 | “Crossroads” / Traveling through Time and Sound

A journey through natural and electronic sounds from the Middle Ages to today

The program “Crossroads” explores the relationship between the natural, the electronic, and the metaphysical using primary sources of sound, percussion, and voice, traveling through time and sound and blending ancient and contemporary musical realms.

Program

• Ash Fure (b. 1982): “Silver Lung 2” for percussion and electronics (2017)
• Mark Andre (b. 1964): “S2” for percussion (2015)
• Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179): “O pastor animarum” for voice
• Iason Maroulis (b. 1999): “Aulis” for tenor and percussion, commissioned by Onassis Stegi (2025)
• Marios Maniatopoulos (tenor), Giannis Psarakis (percussion)

Curator: Filippos Raskovic

“I listen, I write, I play with sounds” | Galaxy Studio | 16:00—21:30

A modular music workshop with three 90-minute sessions, each of which will be presented by the new curators of this year’s “Music Connects the Onassis Stegi and Panteion University” program.

In the first session (16:00—17:30), entitled “Listening Guide,” Pavlos Kordis introduces participants to the discovery of active listening as a means of exploring a musical work. Works of the 20th and 21st centuries included in the concert program of “Music Connects the Onassis Stegi and Panteion University vol. 10” will be heard and commented on.

In the second session (18:00—19:30), entitled “Forming sounds: Introduction to creating electronic music through sampling,” Filippos Rascovic will focus on creative sound processing using the music program Reaper, which participants should have installed on a laptop they bring with them. Through experimentation, they will learn techniques such as time stretching, pitch bending, and using effects to create soundscapes that will be used in the next workshop.

The third session (20:00—21:30) is entitled “Random or not: A workshop on methodical improvisation” and is introduced by Iro Menegou. It is addressed to musicians of any level who would like to explore the possibilities of group playing around a piano (or not!). The aim is to understand how group dynamics and decision-making produce unique musical results.

Information

Basic musical knowledge (reading music and playing an instrument at any level) is required to participate in the workshop.

You can participate by filling out a form. Those interested will be notified of their application acceptance.

There is a maximum limit of 20 participants.

The workshop is free of charge.

Email for inquiries: piano20-21@hotmail.com