He studied piano and percussion. Since 1993 he is a principal percussionist of
the National Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has also collaborated with
the Athens National Orchestra, the Orchestra of Colors (founded
by Manos Hatzidakis) and the Hellenic Radio Pops Orchestra. Parallel
to his classical career he has performed with many famous Greek artists, including
Dimitris Mitropanos, Haris Alexiou, Marinela, Georgos Spanos, Manolis Mitsias,
and many others. Since 1997 he has collaborated extensively
with composer Marios Tokas. As a session percussionist he played in
a large number of albums with such artist as Marios Tokas, Kostas Hatzis, Georgos
Stavrakakis and the National Radio Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Kontos regularly
plays percussion in numerous shows on the Greek National TV.
SOTIRIS
PAPADEAS - Electric Bass
His studies in electric bass and theory in Greece led to three diplomas in Electric
Bass, Contemporary Theory and Music Technology. After winning a scholarship he
continued his electric bass studies at the Los Angeles Academy USA . During his
residence in the States he attended master classes by renowned musician such
as Victor Wooten, Mike Stern, Virgil Donati, Stuart Hamm, etc. A very talented
bassist, he had the opportunity to study privately with Carol Kaye (teacher of
Sting, Stuart Hamm, etc.). Sotiris is a very active session player, having performed
in many recordings, concerts, events, including receptions hosted by Tom Hanks,
Jennifer Arriston and Mel Gibson. In 2005 he played live with Dom Famularo, Jeff
Bowder and Thomas Lang in the first Athens Drum Camp organized by the Modern
Music School.
CHRISTOS
PIKRIDAS - Acoustic & Electric Guitars
From an early age he studied guitar, theory and harmony, while playing in bands
of different styles (Rock, Metal, Jazz, and Funk). In 1999 with the band Fata
Morgana he achieved substantial success in international music awards including
MTV. For the last 15 years he is a very active session player. Christos’ discography
is rather impressive having collaborated with important artists, including Haris
Alexiou, Voskopoulos, Sakis Roubas, Thanos Kaliris, Christos Dantis, Equaleys,
Cutty Shark, Mates, and many others.
STEFANOS XATZAKIS - Acoustic & Electric Guitars
He began music lessons at a very young age. He studied classical guitar and music theory. Today he is an active guitar teacher, a session musician and a sound engineer. He is featured in records of Christos Papadopoulos, Dimitris Mitropanos, Giorgos Dalaras, Themis Adamantidis, Maro Litra and “Etsi De”. Some of his remarkable characteristics as a player are his impressive technique, smooth sound and passionate performance. He is a member of the Honest Touch band since 2005.
CHRISTOS
ZELELIDIS - Drums
As a teenager he played guitar and later drums with several Rock bands. Later
he started studying drums and music theory and composition with Nikos Kariotis.
Since 1990 he is one of the founders of the quintet Ad Libitum, a distinctive
Greek ensemble that merges the classical form with modern music idioms. In mid
90s he begins teaching drums and contemporary theory, while studying vibraphone
and Greek traditional percussion instruments. He teaches drums in the National
Conservatory, Piraeus Conservatory and Diesis Arts Center and
music theory in the Sibelius Conservatory. Zelelidis collaborated with
the companies Musica Viva and Da Capo as a supervisor of classical
and historical recordings. A very active drummer, he has played as a session
drummer in many recordings and regularly performs with the classic-rock band Idée-Fix.
VASILIS
GAROUFALIDIS - Solo Violin
Vasilis gave his first public performance at the age of nine. A highly talented
violinist, he received his first diploma from the Athens Conservatory with a
First Prize Award. He then continued his studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama
of London with the celebrated Professor Yfrah Neaman. He graduated from the Guildhall
winning a First Prize for his Concert Recital Diploma. He made his Athens debut
with the Athens State Orchestra playing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Later
on he represented Greece in many prestigious international Orchestras and events
participating in institutions such as the Internationale de Jeunesses Musicales
and the World Youth Symphony Orchestra in Michigan USA. He has appeared as a
soloist with orchestras in the UK , USA , Germany , Greece and Yugoslavia . He
plays on the “Oscar Mez” Stradivarius made in Cremona in 1716.
