The University of Athens, just a few days before the loss, awarded the distinguished musician Kyriakos Sfetsas an honorary doctorate of the Department of Music Studies (DMS) of the National University of Athens.
One of the most important Greek composers of the 20th and 21st centuries, Kyriakos Sfetsas left behind a rich body of work ranging from contemporary art and electronic music to jazz, fusion and film music. He forged his own path, giving Greek music the freedom to connect with jazz and the global avant-garde. He served as director of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Programs of the Hellenic Radio and was the founder of the Greek Jazz Fusion Orchestra.
The University of Athens, just a few days before his death, awarded the distinguished musician Kyriakos Sfetsas an honorary doctorate from the Department of Music Studies (DMS) of the National University of Athens, which organized a four-day tribute to the composer's work, honoring his timeless work, as well as his many years of pioneering contribution to contemporary Greek and international musical creation.
The work of Kyriakos Sfetsas is connected to the four main directions of the Department of Music Studies of the National University of Athens: classical and contemporary Western European music, Greek traditional music, jazz and Byzantine music.
The TMS Coordinating Committee, with professors Anastasia Georgaki and Mina Alexiadis and faculty members of the Department, organized four events with concerts and scientific lectures for the honored composer. During the appointment of Kyriakos Sfetsas as an honorary doctor of the TMS, in the University's Ceremonial Hall, the Vice-Rector of the National University of Athens, Professor Sofia Papaioannou, and Professor Lambros Liavas spoke, who presented the work of the distinguished composer. The president of the TMS, Professor Anastasios Chapsoulas, and the former president of the Department, Professor Anastasia Georgaki, spoke about his personality and work.
A musical program followed with the composer's works Oblivion and Love song by students of the TMS, under the supervision of Dr. Vasilis Priovolos. The next day, a workshop was dedicated to the composer's work entitled "Sound Transformations between West and East". On the third day, a concert was held by the Open Jazz Fusion Ensemble with a special tribute to the music of Kyriakos Sfetsas under the direction of Telemachos Moussa. On the last day, a concert was held at the university by the Athens Philharmonic Orchestra with the participation of TMS students. The works of Kyriakos Sfetsas were presented: Diplochromia, Midnight Music and Ionian Lyra with soloists mezzo soprano Angeliki Kathariou and Alexandros Arkadopoulos on traditional clarinet under the direction of Professor Zoe Zeniodi.
These musical events, offered by the TMS on the occasion of the awarding of Kyriakos Sfetsas by the University of Athens, gave the composer the honor he deserved, who due to his health problems was unable to attend and was represented by his daughter. The memory of Kyriakos Sfetsas, who creatively combined tradition with modernism, will remain deeply engraved in the world of music.
Published in VIMA
photo https://sfetsas.gr/el/#_0
