During the workshops, the role of the violin in Epirotic music will be presented. By the end of the seminars, participants will be familiar with the techniques and playing styles required to perform the distinctive Epirotic idiom.

Emphasis will be placed on the Epirotic Moiroloi (lament) and Skaros at a soloist level, as well as orchestral tunes from the Pogoni region (Dryminitsa, Pogonisios, Berati, Arvanitovlachiko, etc.) and Zagori (Zagorisio, Frasia, Selfo, etc.).

Additionally, the accompanying role of the violin will be explored, focusing on its position within the Epirotic ensemble alongside the clarinet, laouto, and defi.

He was born and raised in Ioannina. His parents come from Megali Gotista and Megalo Peristeri, both villages in the Municipality of Metsovo. He began studying classical violin in 1986 at the age of 12 at the Epirotic Conservatory “Tsakalov.” He soon realized that what resonated with him most was the laiko (folk) violin, and he started lessons with folk musician Yiannis Panos (Telis) from Megali Gotista, later continuing under violin virtuoso Kostas Kostagiorgos. At the same time, he continued studying classical violin and graduated in 1999 from the Municipal Conservatory of Ioannina.

He holds a master’s degree in Ethnomusicology and Cultural Anthropology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, specializing in laiko violin.

He has collaborated with leading Epirotic musicians such as Grigoris Kapsalis, Petros Loukas Chalkias, Stavros Kapsalis, Nikos Filippidis, Giorgos Kotsinis, among others, performing at numerous events, festivals (glentia), village feasts, and folk music concerts.

He was a founding member of the group “Epirotiko Takimi” with master clarinetist Thomas Chaligiannis from Parakalamos and has participated in many recordings of traditional Epirotic music.

He served as a folk violin instructor at the Municipal Conservatory of Ioannina from 1998 to 2006 and has been teaching at the Music School of Ioannina since then. During the 2022-2023 academic year, he also taught violin at the Department of Music Studies at the University of Ioannina (Arta campus) as an adjunct lecturer.