Vangelis Kotsou was born in Athens to Epirus parents who raised him with Epirus customs and traditions as well as Epirus folk songs and especially Epirus polyphonic songs. He comes from Ktismata Pogoni, the village of polyphonic songs.

He was lucky enough to have as his grandfather the great name of polyphonic song, Spyros Matsias. He spent all his school holidays at Ktismata, playing with his grandfather, listening to and singing genuine Epirus polyphonic songs. He is the fourth generation of the Matsias family of polyphonic songs.

At the age of seven, he became a member of the children’s choir of the Municipality of Athens. His talent secured him a scholarship to the National Conservatory of Athens (Manolis Kalomiris) where for 17 years he studied classical singing, history of musical orchestration and conducting, composition, music theory and harmony. At the same time, he participates as a singer in polyphonic groups and traditional music ensembles in performances, concerts and festivals in Greece and abroad.

He participated, among others, in traditional music performances at the “Herodion”, the Athens Concert Hall, in Spain, Italy, the USA, Germany, with the most important being the performance “And with light and with death incessantly” Athens Concert Hall – Director: Costas Gavras and the events of the WORLD MUSIC INSTITUTE of the USA.

He has been honored with many awards as a singer of traditional music and polyphonic singing.

Since 1990 he has been teaching polyphonic, traditional singing and choir

Since 1995 he has been responsible for the polyphonic ensemble “KTISMATON”

He has a rich research and writing work

Today he continues his journey in the musical and cultural events of our country as a conductor of a traditional music orchestra, conductor and singer of polyphonic singing, professor of polyphonic singing, singer of traditional singing, curator of musical productions, writer and researcher.

In 2010 he was a professor of polyphonic singing at the Kapodistrian University of Athens at the School of Musicology.

He was a teacher of polyphonic singing at the first “Mousika Ktismata” in 2025.