Giannis Mantakas Choir of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

The Giannis Mantakas Choir of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the main activity of the Music Department of the University Student Club. It was founded in 1953 by Giannis Mantakas (1932-1998) with the aim of cultivating music among students and young people in our city. However, it surpassed the university context, developed multidimensional activities, and made a significant contribution to the music scene in Thessaloniki and throughout Greece. Simultaneously, it became a constant presence abroad, mainly due to the intense personality and activity of its founder, whose name it carries today as a tribute to his memory. The choir is currently directed by Eriphyle Damianou.

The Choir has contributed over time to the evolution of choral music in Greece. It renewed the repertoire, organized seminars and publications of choral music works, and presented hundreds of choral works of all eras, especially from the Renaissance, Baroque, and contemporary periods, both Greek and foreign. This remains a continuous pursuit for the choir.

In Greece, it has collaborated with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, Athens State Orchestra, Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Orchestra, Youth Orchestra of Thessaloniki, Kalamaria Municipality Orchestra, and conductors such as Karolos Trikolidis, Alkis Valtas, Myron Michaelides, Dimitris Dimopoulos, Antonis Kontogeorgiou, Kostis Papazoglou, Angelos Philippou, and others. It has participated in the Athens Festival and Dimitria Festival and has performed in many cities in Greece. The Choir has organized numerous Greek and International Choir and Orchestra Meetings in Thessaloniki and has made many recordings and videos with choral music programs for radio and television.

Since 1964, the Choir has been a regular member of the EUROPEAN CHORAL ASSOCIATION – EUROPA CANTAT. It regularly appears in international festivals and participates in choral workshops, collaborating with other European choirs and orchestras, studying and presenting major works from the international repertoire with conductors such as Lazlo Heltay, Pierre Cao, Andras Farcas, Erik van Nevel, Edmont Colomer, Johann Duyck, Tillai Aurél, Pierre Calmelet, and more.

Recent participations include:
2000: Nevers (France)
2001: Ghent (Belgium)
2002: Loughborough (England)
2003: Barcelona (Spain)
2005: Ghent (Belgium)
2007: Nevers (France)
2008: Szczecin (Poland)
2009: Utrecht (Netherlands)
2010: Pécs (Hungary)
2011: Briançon (France)

Following an almost sixty-year continuous journey, with the support of the University authorities and the assistance of worthy collaborators, the Choir today consistently offers the opportunity for a large number of its members from the university community and the music-loving population of our city to cultivate their musical talents, come into contact with significant works of the choral repertoire, and develop strong and long-lasting bonds of friendship and collaboration through a creative collective effort.

Each year’s general program includes collaborations and concerts at the University, in Thessaloniki, and in other Greek cities, featuring Greek and foreign repertoire.

Source: Giannis Mantakas Choir