MUSIKOS – South Aegean Festival is celebrating 10 years of uninterrupted musical presence in the Dodecanese this year, continuing its journey across the islands with concerts and educational activities that bring together artists, residents, and visitors.
From 2016 to the present, the Festival has traveled from Patmos to Kastellorizo and from Kasos to Lipsi, with Rhodes and Kos as its main ports of call, spreading the message that music can unite people, places, and generations. This year’s anniversary edition will visit 10 islands with 17 concerts and 40 educational activities.
In Rhodes, four concerts at iconic locations across the island form a unique musical series, in which Greek folk music, crossover, jazz, and chamber music come together through prominent ensembles and performers.
The opening took place on Monday, September 14, at the Bastion of the Palace of the Grand Master, with the “Tribute to Greek Song.” The Woodwind Quintet of the Athens State Orchestra, in collaboration with soprano Vassia Zacharopoulou and baritone Spyros Kleissas, presented a program dedicated to Greek song.
The musical journey in Rhodes continues on Friday, September 25, at 9:00 p.m., at the Palace of the Grand Master, with the concert “Cross over: A Tribute to Elvis Presley.” Metallon—the Brass and Percussion Ensemble of the Athens State Orchestra—in collaboration with tenor Nikola Maraziotis and under the musical direction of Nikos Haliasas, explores the music and legend of Elvis Presley in a unique crossover program.
On Monday, September 28, at 9:00 p.m., Panagia tou Bourkou will host the concert “Musical Transformations,” featuring the Jazz Quartet, in a program that highlights the constant transformation of music through different sounds and influences.
The concert series in Rhodes concludes on Thursday, October 1, at 9:00 p.m., at the Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, featuring the Ast Quartet and the concert “Musical Highlights from Romanticism to the Present,” a musical journey from the Romantic repertoire to contemporary compositions.
At the same time, MUSIKOS’s educational activities continue in full swing in Rhodes. On September 14, 15, and 16, morning activities for students will be held with the Woodwind Quintet; on September 17 and 18, with the String Trio; while on September 28, students will meet the Hermann Quartet and the Jazz Quartet. Education and exposing the island’s children to music remain a central focus of the festival.
Ten years after its first note, MUSIKOS – South Aegean Festival continues to serve as a vibrant meeting point for art, education, and the local community, highlighting music as a common ground for communication and creativity.
The Festival is held under the auspices of and with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture.
The event is also supported by the Hellenic Parliament, the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy, and the Dodecanese Ephorate of Antiquities. Co-organizers include the Region of South Aegean, the Municipality of Rhodes, and ANAX. The Gold Sponsor is MITSIS, while SKY express is the Transportation Sponsor.
Supporters of the event include Kos Rent a Boat and Hatzioannou Bros. Captain Morgan. Hospitality sponsors are Apollo Beach Hotel, D’Andrea Lagoon, Chrysalis, Pylaia Boutique Hotel, and Mouras Resort.
The festival is organized in collaboration with the Athens State Orchestra, while Bespoke Communications is handling communications.