Elena Christodoulou

Greek concert pianist Elena Christodoulou has pursued a career of remarkable diversity. Regarded for her “… exquisite and crystal clear ability of her fingers… worth jealous control of sound, phrasing and musical intentions…extrovert martellato sound, impressive technical skills…” Musical Tone, June 2003, (Greece), she has given numerous piano recitals and chamber music concerts in four continents: North America, Europe, Asia, Africa. She has appeared in such prestigious concert halls as Athens Megaron Concert Hall and Thessaloniki Megaron Concert Hall, Greece; Cairo Opera House and Alexandria Opera House, Egypt; Roudaki Hall and Vahdat Hall, Iran; in Austria (Salzburg); in U.S.A. (Boston, Salt Lake City, Dayton e.t.c.) and in Italy (Rome) to name a few. She has performed in many major festivals, including “Manolis Kalomiris” in Samos, “Sani Festival” in Halkidiki, “Aisxylia Festival” in Eleusis, “Heraklion Summer Festival” in Crete. She has performed as a soloist with various orchestras not only in Greece but also abroad such as the Greek Orchestra of Colors (Founder, Manos Hadjidakis) under the direction of Miltos Logiadis, the Italian orchestra “Giovanile Partenopea” under the direction of Enrico Volpe, the chamber orchestra of the American College of Greece under the direction of Dimitris Toufexis, the Greek Saxophone orchestra of the Piraeus Prefecture under the direction of Theodore Kerkezos etc.

In Greece Elena Christodoulou has collaborated with numerous Embassies, such as the American, Swiss, Italian, Egyptian, and Serbian Embassy (under the patronage of Princess Katherine of Serbia), with the aim of promoting the Greek, American, and European classical music. She has also recorded for the Greek National Radio, TV, and the Greek Radio broadcasting in Boston. Even though she holds a diverse repertoire from the piano literature, ranging from the Baroque era to 21st century, she often feels the need to interpret works by contemporary Greek composers, many of which have dedicated their works to her.

Elena Christodoulou has also given numerous chamber music concerts in Greece and abroad. She often performs with distinguished musicians of her generation, such as the New York Grammy Awards nominee saxophonist Theodore Kerkezos, the distinguished pianist Christina Panteli, the violinist Alexandros Halapsis, the “Quattro Elementi” string quartet e.t.c. Since 2006 she has been collaborating with the pianist Christina Panteli, creating a successful piano duo with numerous concerts performed, always receiving highly acclaimed comments on their accomplished and sensitive interpretations. Even though they hold a diverse repertoire from the piano duo literature, ranging from the Baroque era to 21st century, they often feel the need to interpret works by Greek composers, many of which have dedicated their works to them. They premiered works for two pianos by Greek composers such as M.I. Alexiadis, D. Terzakis, T. Rossopoulos. In 2011 they were invited by the Greek Composers Union to give an honorary concert with Greek compositions for two pianos celebrating the Union’s 10-year anniversary of collaboration with the Goethe Institut Athen. They have been awarded by Lions Club (Greece) for offering a charity concert at The Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts and Music. They have recorded works of Spanish and Greek composers for the Greek National Radio. From 2009 to 2013 they worked on a special project, where they collaborated with distinguished singers and instrumentalists of traditional music creating a unique trio performing works of the classical music literature, as well as songs and melodies drawn from traditional music. The works were transcribed and presented by the two pianists with incredible virtuosity and mastery while bringing together two different musical worlds (Western well-tempered music and traditional music) with great passion and innovation.

Elena Christodoulou has given a series of piano masterclasses in Iran, in collaboration with The Tehran Arts University, as well as in the International Summer Festival and Summer Academy in Loutraki, Greece (organized in cooperation with Vladimir Spivakov and Vladimir Krainev International Charity Foundation), since 2015. She is often invited as a member of the jury in national and international piano competitions. Many of her students have won 1st and 2nd prizes in several piano competitions as well as have graduated with honors.

Elena Christodoulou was chosen to lead along with the pianist Christina Panteli a special program funded by European Union called “Solidarity and Management of Immigration Flow into European Union” which took place in Greece. They designed and composed an original educational method of teaching the Greek language to young immigrants through music and singing. This method was implemented on Greek schools and was attended by music professors from Italy, France, Cyprus and Greece.

Elena received her Piano Diploma with Honors, first prize, and a gold medal under the instruction of Dimitris Toufexis. She graduated from The American College of Greece (Deree College), where she received a B.A. in Music, with Highest Distinction. As a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship and the Onassis Foundation Scholarship, she earned the Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from The Boston Conservatory of Music under the instruction of Michael Lewin. She also studied with other great pianists, such as Leon Fleisher, Jacob Lateiner (Mozarteum Academy, Austria), Aquilles delle Vigne, Nicolae Petrof, Marcella Crudelli. In recognition of her contribution to the artistic activities of The American College of Greece, she was awarded with the Special Artistic Award, the second award given in the history of the College. She is a prize winner in several piano competitions in Greece and abroad (Rome, Boston – Concerto competition).

“… Ms Christodoulou is a fulfilled classical pianist and I know her very well from various performances. Her skills have been recognized by well-known music critics and fellow artists. Her scenic appearance is excellent and very personal…..”
Mr. Pierre Monod, Ambassador of Switzerland in Greece, February 2005

“… I would like to thank you for your excellent performance … your musical presentation was the highlight of the event as it offered not only artistic pleasure but proved once more that music brings people together.”
Mr. Nicholas Burns, Ambassador of U.S.A. in Greece, July 2001