Alkis Baltas

Alkis Baltas was born in Thessaloniki on November 30, 1948. He grew up in a musical family: his mother was a professional musician (violinist in the Thessaloniki State Orchestra), his father was an amateur musician (viola player), and his brother is a cellist (currently a permanent musician in the Thessaloniki State Orchestra).

He studies violin (under Stavros Papanastasiou) and advanced theoretical composition (under Solon Michaelides) at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki from 1958 to 1970. He continued his studies in 1974 (with a scholarship from the Society for Macedonian Studies) at the Hochschule der Künste in what was then West Berlin. He studied composition with Max Baumann and conducting with Hans Martin Rabenstein. In 1978, he received diplomas in both specialties.

In 1968, he was the assistant conductor of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Choir, directed by Giannis Mantakas, where he first encountered medieval and Renaissance music and contemporary music. Conducted many concerts of the AUTH Choir in Thessaloniki and other cities. The Choir also performed several of his choral works (Agia Marina, Cantata of the Sweet Country of Cyprus, Psalm, etc.). Director for a time of the Choir of the Student Groups of XMO and the Choir of the Macedonian Art Society “Techni”. Member, as a violinist, of the Pro Musica ensemble (conductor Antonis Kontogeorgiou) and a member of the Thessaloniki State Orchestra from 1969 to 1974.

In 1969, along with Domna Eunuchidou, Renos Baltas, Vyronas Fidetzis, and Yiannis Vakarelis, they created the “Week of Young Artists”, an institution that the Thessaloniki International Fair continues to this day under the name “International Music Days”. Later awarded by the TIF with a medal for this activity.
The Thessaloniki State Orchestra presented his first orchestral work (the “Cypriot Suite”) in 1970 with S. Michaelides as the conductor. In 1972, the Thessaloniki Festival “Dimitria” commissioned and presented, with Dimitris Chorafas as the conductor, the work “Suite for Orchestra”. The Macedonian Society “Techni” organized a concert in 1973 with his works and works of Kostas Nikitas.

For many years, he collaborated with the Radio Station of Macedonia with broadcasts in which he analyzed classical music works (“musical calendar”, “musical approaches”, “there is music…”) and presented folk music from around the world. Later collaborated with the Radio Station “Paratiritis”.
Professor in the subject of harmony and conductor of the student orchestra and choir of the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki. Created at KOTH a small chamber choir. With the above ensembles, he gave many concerts culminating in opera performances (Mozart “Apollo and Hyacinthus”).
In the summer of 1970 with a scholarship from the organization “Musical Neiata” participates – after a competition – as a viola musician, in the World Youth Orchestra in Canada-Denmark (conductor Erich Leinsdorf). In 1971, he participates in the same orchestra in Belgium and Italy. The orchestra’s conductor Carl Ancerl encouraged him to seriously pursue orchestra conducting.

Also, he closely collaborated with the State Theater of Northern Greece, writing music for theatrical works. In Berlin, during his studies, he became the conductor of the amateur orchestras Seniorenorchester and Orchester-Charlottenburg. In 1973, the Academy assigned him the teaching of the course of Orchestra Conducting in the Music for School Teachers program. In 1974, he obtained a Law degree from AUTH. He conducted the Athens State Orchestra for the first time in Greece after an invitation from Manos Hadjidakis. Followed by concerts in Thessaloniki with the Thessaloniki State Orchestra and recordings with the ERT Orchestra.

In 1983, he was appointed director of the Thessaloniki State Orchestra. For the first time, he established the AUTH Ceremony Hall as a concert venue and the “Aulai” Hall as a chamber music concert venue. Renewed the orchestra’s repertoire with more Greek works and contemporary music. Created the KOTH ensemble which, alongside the large orchestra, participated in many concerts for students, workers, and soldiers. Created the KOTH Youth Orchestra in which young musicians from many cities of Northern Greece participated. Established the KOTH scholarship “Parmenion Karagounidis”. Conducted the KOTH in many concerts in Thessaloniki in other cities and at the “Dimitria” and “Athens” Festivals. In 1992 (after 9 years of continuous service in KOTH) his term was proposed for renewal, but after a political intervention by the then Minister, the decision was revoked. For his contribution to KOTH, he was honored with the Golden Music Award of the Northern Greece Music Society.

Named an honorary member of the Cologne Philharmonic Choir. Participates in music seminars in various Greek cities and becomes a member of the organizing committee of the International Music Competition “Musical Neiata” in Belgrade. In 1988, he took over the Direction of the Contemporary Conservatory of Thessaloniki. Organized with the conservatory the music camp “Vertiskos”. Disagreed with partners on operational issues and resigned in 1990.
During the period 1992-1994, he became the director of the youth Orchestra of Conservatories with which he gave many concerts. In 1992, he was appointed as special scientific staff in the Department of Musical Studies at AUTH where he teaches to this day.

In 1994, he took over the General Direction of the National Opera of Greece. Renewed the repertoire with modern works (Kagel, Shostakovich, etc.), created the Children’s Opera (every Sunday morning), the ballet and melodramatic studios for young dancers and singers, and established a broad touring program outside Athens. Resigned in June 1997, refusing to accept pressure from the then Minister of Culture Evangelos Venizelos for the hiring of a specific dancer.
During his tenure at the National Opera of Greece, he collaborated with the ERT Musical Ensembles (then director Mikis Theodorakis) on the extensive educational program “Music Goes to School” and introduced concerts in schools. Also taught at the Greek Conservatory in Athens.
In 1990, he participated in the founding and became the director of the “Thessaloniki Music College”, a position he holds to this day.

In October 1997, he took over the Direction of the ERT Music Ensembles (“National Symphony Orchestra”, “Contemporary Music Orchestra”, Choir, Big-Band). Organized numerous concerts within and outside Athens. Resigned in October 1999, disagreeing on organizational issues of the Music Ensembles.

In 1998, he took over the Direction of the Greek Conservatory, a position he holds to this day. During the period 2001 – 2017, he was the artistic director of the festival “The Divine Revelation of Music” in Patmos. From 2004 to 2008, the Municipality of Corfu assigned him the artistic direction of the Corfu Municipal Symphony Orchestra.

In September 2009, the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki assigned him the direction of its Orchestra. In March 2010, the Municipality of Veria assigned him the Artistic Direction of the “Veria Euhon City” Festival. In May 2010, the “Old Philharmonic Society of Corfu” assigned him the artistic direction of the Symphony Orchestra.

During the period 2011-2017, he was the Artistic Director of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. (C.S.O.) During this period, in addition to regular concerts, he organized numerous socially contributing concerts (outside the major cities and in unusual venues such as in a park) as well as numerous educational concerts. Created a small orchestra with unemployed musicians (“climakio” which was later named “orchestra Allegro vivace” to give many educational concerts beyond those performed by the C.S.O. Resigned in 2017 for reasons of personal dignity, after a strong disagreement with the Board of the “Cyprus Symphony Orchestra” Foundation. The musicians of the C.S.O. honored him upon his departure and, later, a new Board named him Honorary Conductor of the Orchestra.

Alkis Baltas has given symphonic music concerts and opera performances in Greece and many countries such as: Italy (“Festival of the Two Worlds”), France, Spain, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Austria, Germany (among others at the Berlin Opera), Yugoslavia (Belgrade festival), Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, Soviet Union, Turkey, United States, Argentina, Australia (Melbourne festival), England, etc.

He is a member of the Union of Greek Composers. He has composed works for symphony orchestra, choir, chamber music, etc. His opera MOMO was presented at the Athens Concert Hall in 1997 and in December at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall. Besides his compositional work, he has orchestrated piano works by Konstantinidis and Hadjidakis (“Achivada”) and the entire “Hymn to Freedom” by N. Mantzaros.

In February 2004, his ballet “Panoria” was presented by the National Opera of Greece, in its first world performance. Several of his compositions are intended for youth orchestras. In 2004, he was awarded in two international composition competitions (Spain and Trieste). He has also participated as an educator (of advanced theoretical subjects) in many seminars in Greece and Cyprus.

Source: AlkisBaltas.info