The Music Ensembles of the University of Thessaly were founded in 2005 aiming to the musical growth of the students through the experiential approach to music (concerts, publications, festivals, and cultural exchanges).
These musical quests are supported by collective action and act as a bridge of communication with various institutions in the city as well as other educational institutions in Greece and abroad. Various genres of music are involved in the musical presentations and help bring together students from different departments of the UTH with vocal expression as the main tool. Responsible for these activities, the musical moral support, and the vocal training is Mrs. Maria Thoidou, member of the Specialized Teaching Staff in the field of vocal musical performance – monody, the supervisor of the Musical Ensembles of the University of Thessaly.
Under the guidance of Mrs. Maria Thoidou and in collaboration with well-known musicians, four cds have been produced by the University of Thessaly:
- (I'm your world) Songs by Manos Xadjidakis (2013). Vocal Expression group and small instrumental ensemble. Accompaniment: Thodoros Kotepanos
- (Trick on Santa Claus) A musical fairy tale by Maria Anastasiou set to music by Manolis Androulidakis (2014). Vocal Expression group
- (Bloody wedding and five more songs) by Manos Xadjidakis (2015). Vocal Expression group in collaboration with Group of Musical Education (musical training: P. Kanellopoulos, Substitute professor of the PTDE (Department of Pre-school Education) Piano accompaniment: D. Bouzanis, Th. Kotepanos, Ft: Ilias Liougos
- "Make Time" (2016) Songs written by Alkis Alkaios. Vocal Expression group. Set to music and guitar accompaniment by Manolis Androulidakis. Ft: Sokratis Malamas
The Music Ensembles of the University of Thessaly have performed in Germany (Berlin, Braunschweig) and Cyprus (Nicosia) as well as various cities in Greece, such as Thessaloniki, Athens, Xanthi, Larissa, etc. They have also collaborated with various educational and social institutions, such as the Juvenile Correctional Facilities for Boys of Volos, the Retirement Home of Volos, the prison of Kassaveteia, the Second Chance School, the prison of Larissa, the 5th High School of Volos, the Orphanage of Volos, the Development Association of Agios Lavrentios, the cultural corporation Puerto del Tango, the ERT Radio Station, the Estoudiantina orchestra of Volos, etc. They have also collaborated with the Municipality of Volos, the University of Macedonia (Department of Music Science & Art), the ANAPLOUS publications, the University of Cyprus, the Rotary club Braunschweig and the Martino Katharineums Braunschweig Gymnasium, the Royal Theatre in Thessaloniki, the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, ERT’s studio C (live on the Second Programme of ERT Radio Station).
In the framework of the festivities and the seminars organized by the Music Ensembles, students and citizens of Volos have come into contact with distinguished artists and intellectuals, such as Theodora Athanasiou, Kostas Anastasiadis, Manolis Androulidakis, Antonis Anissegos, Thimios Atzakas, Nena Venetsanou, Dimos Vougioukas, Agathi Dimitrouka, Dimitris Demiris, Giannis Zarias, Andreas Ziakas, Sofia Kagia, Lizeta Kalimeri, Vasilis Kokkonis, Theodoros Kotepanos, Ilias Liougkos, Maria Louka, Sokratis Malamas, Notis Mavroudis, Thanos Mikroutsikos, Dimitris Mpouzanis, Dimitris Mystakidis, Michalis Pieris, Maria Simoglou, Christos Tzitzimikas, Dafni Philippou, Iamvos music Ensemble, Εfren Lopez, Ziad Ratzab, Haig Yazdjian, etc. The Music Ensembles of the University of Thessaly collaborate with the Theatre group ‘Tritos Orofos’ (Third Floor) (responsible person Maria Karazanou), putting on performances which combine the art of theatre and music.
Since 2012, the Music Ensembles of the University of Thessaly collaborate in workshops and Greek song concerts with students of the university and various other educational institutions of Braunschweig, Germany, with the support of the Braunschweig Rotary Club. Since 2018, these cultural collaborations called “Strasse der Träume” are scheduled to take place in Germany every two years, in December, promoting the cultural interaction of the two cities and countries through the contact with the Greek songs.
The Music Ensembles of the University of Thessaly volunteer in the Pau Festival of the University of Thessaly, which is hosted, since 2016, at the UTH Conference & Cultural Center in the Old Monastery of Pau, located in Argalasti, Pelion, under the artistic direction of Maria Thoidou, (paoufestival.weebly.com). Students, alumni, and partners of the Music Ensembles of UTH form groups of artistic expression and collective support of the festival.
The Music Ensembles of the University of Thessaly are a cultural focal point in the University as well as in the city of Volos and contribute to the active cultural aspect of the University of Thessaly.
Contact: mousika_synola [at] uth.gr (mousika_synola[at]uth[dot]gr)
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