The Medieval Moat Theater “Melina Merkouri” hosted the first concert featuring visually impaired artists in Rhodes and the South Aegean, on an evening that highlighted the power of music, the value of inclusion, and culture as a common good for all.
This special event, titled “A Musical Journey Through the Aegean,” was co-organized by the Culture Department of the Municipality of Rhodes and the Association of People with Disabilities of the Province of Rhodes, with the invaluable contribution of the Dodecanese Ephorate of Antiquities.
The packed theater was filled with music, emotion, and powerful messages of equality, demonstrating that culture is a space for encounter, creativity, and equal participation, free from discrimination and exclusion.
The concert was not merely another cultural event. It was a celebration of human strength, will, and spirit, highlighting the essential role of art as a means of expression, inspiration, and social cohesion.
It was a special honor for the organizers to have the participation of Stathis Koukoularis, a leading master of traditional music, who, with his distinguished artistic career and enduring contributions, embraced this important initiative, adding even greater value to the evening.
He was joined on stage by the exceptional musicians Panagiotis Sakoulas on the lute and Argyris Svourakis on percussion, as well as the Embonas Cultural Association “Attavyros,” highlighting the richness of our region’s musical tradition.
As part of the event, the Municipality of Rhodes honored Stathis Koukoularis for his long-standing and invaluable contribution to Greek traditional music, as well as the Katholikis and Dimitris Tharrenou siblings from Embonas, for their remarkable international achievement in winning first place at the 2025 International Low Vision Song Contest in Berlin with the song “I Will Sing as Long as I Live.”
The joint performance by the Tharrenou siblings with Stathis Koukoularis was one of the highlights of the evening, earning warm applause from the audience and reaffirming that music is the language that unites all people.
The honorary awards were presented by Stathis Manousakis, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Municipal Unit of Kallithea, and Georgios Pattas, Deputy Mayor for Communications and Deputy Mayor for CultureGeorgios Pattas.
Warm thanks and congratulations go to all those who contributed to the success of the event: Stathis Koukoulari, Dimitris and Katholiki Tharenou, Panagiotis Sakoulas, Argyris Svourakis, the Embonas Cultural Association “Attavyros,” as well as the Association of People with Disabilities of the Province of Rhodes and its president, Panagiotis Foniadakis, for their excellent cooperation and long-standing contribution.
The event was honored by the presence of Stathis Manousakis, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Municipal Unit of Kallithea, the Deputy Mayor for Communications and Acting Deputy Mayor for Culture, Georgios Pattas, Yiannis Mitsou, Deputy Mayor for the Environment, Green Spaces, Urban Development, and the Municipal Unit of Rhodes, Kallistos Diakogeorgiou, Deputy Regional Governor for Culture, and Nikos Tsoukalas, Deputy Regional Governor for Public Health and Social Welfare.
With vision, consistency, and an outward-looking approach, the Culture Department of the Municipality of Rhodes continues to plan and implement initiatives that highlight culture as a driving force for creativity, social cohesion, and openness to the world. The success of the “Musical Journey through the Aegean” concert reaffirms its steadfast commitment to developing a contemporary cultural program that embraces all citizens, showcases the region’s creative talents, and establishes Rhodes as a benchmark for high-quality cultural events with a meaningful social impact.