Meropi Kollarou

Meropi Kollarou, born in 1955 in Alexandroupoli, a diverse and multicultural city, has roots in both Minor Asia and Syros. Her cultured and music-loving parents encouraged her early piano education. Her first piano teacher was Eleni Delimichali, who had created a significant core of piano students. She then continued her studies with the sweet-natured Armenian teacher, Tsolit Kayat, at the Municipal Conservatory of Alexandroupoli. The conservatory, established in 1958 as a branch of the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, was largely due to the efforts of many, especially the prominent folklorist Eleni Filippidi.

Under the guidance of these generous teachers, Kollarou laid the foundations for her future artistic world. They spent many hours studying scores and listening to music, including Beethoven concerts and other significant composers through the famed Istanbul radio, known for its superior broadcast range compared to Greek state radio. Opportunities in the province were limited, and many who grew up outside of Athens started almost self-taught.

Kollarou also sought advanced and challenging composers like Chopin and Prokofiev on her own, finding their scores at the store of an exceptional merchant and musician, Christoforos Papadopoulos, a remarkable figure in old Alexandroupoli.

Noted for her meticulousness and precision, her talent was recognized by specialists for her clear and accurate musical temperament. Critics often praised her energetic playing and powerful interpretations of her diverse repertoire. Takis Kalogeropoulos’ dictionary of Greek music extensively covers her artistic activities.

After studying at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki under the great music director Georgios Thymis, she graduated with honors. She then trained at the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy in Budapest from 1982 to 1987 on a Hungarian Government scholarship, studying with Ferenc Rados and significant composer Gyorgy Kurtag, who greatly influenced her musical path. Further studies in modern American music with Noel Lee in Belgium, Spanish music with Rosa Sabater, and with other notable contemporary performers like Leonard Bernstein, Dimitri Baskiroff, Maria Cursio, Gyorgy Sebok, Tamas Vasary, enriched her artistry. She formed friendships and collaborations with prominent Hungarian pianists such as Zoltan Kocsis, Dezso Ranki, Andras Schiff, Peter Nagy, and many more.

She collaborated with the State Theater of Northern Greece in musical productions and recorded works of contemporary Greek composers. Kollarou has been performing for over 40 years in solo recitals, chamber music concerts, radio recordings, and as a soloist with major Greek and European orchestras. She participated in international festivals and concerts worldwide, gaining recognition for her interpretations of works by B. Britten, A. Copland, Thanos Mikroutsikos, Kyriakos Sfetsas, and Giorgos Sisilianos, among others.

Kollarou worked with conductors like Andreas Rentsch, Guntram Simma, Byron Fidetzis, Rolf Reuter, Richard Studt, and Stavros Xarhakos, and chamber music with renowned performers. She regularly performed at the Megaron Music Hall in Athens and engaged in educational programs across Greece. A longtime collaborator of the Union of Greek Composers, she participated in various events and workshops.

She formed a piano duo with Finnish pianist Reima Raijas until 2001, performing a broad repertoire and premiering their transcriptions. Kollarou is equally committed to her educational work, teaching at various prestigious institutions and serving as the director of the Municipal Conservatory of Alexandroupoli since 1988, significantly enhancing its reputation and quality of education.

Her work in organizing institutions promoting music education in Thrace is notable, including transferring works of Greek composers to chamber music settings and presenting them in numerous dedications. She has implemented pilot programs in cooperation with primary and secondary education to introduce students to classical music and instruments.

Kollarou believes in supporting talented students and guiding them toward appropriate scholarships and opportunities. For her, a great musician transcends showmanship, revealing a genuine musical worldview through their approach to music.

Despite challenges, Kollarou continued to enrich the Alexandroupoli Municipal Conservatory, resisting cultural and aesthetic deterioration while adapting to modern educational standards. Her influence has been instrumental in shaping the institution into a respected cultural and educational center since its foundation in 1958.

Source: Theodosios Vafeiadis – TAR