At 19, Athanasios Kyparos has already carved out a remarkable international career in violin. A scholarship student at Musik Akademie Basel under Professor Leonidas Kavakos, he has distinguished himself in over 40 international and national competitions, and has appeared as a soloist in leading concert halls, such as Carnegie Hall in New York, the Musikverein in Vienna, and the Mozarteum in Salzburg. Reflecting on his career to date, he speaks to classicalmusic.gr about his studies, his experiences, and his dreams for the future.
When and how did you first come into contact with music?
I grew up in a family where music always held a special place. So, from my earliest memories, I cannot recall myself without music. I distinctly remember the first time my parents and I went to a concert at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall. I was captivated by the sound of the violin, and from that moment, at five years old, I knew that this instrument would be a part of my life. The very next day, I started lessons and acquired my first violin, which, to this day, holds the most special place in my home.
Who or what prompted you to pursue music professionally?
I believe that from a very young age, with the guidance of my teachers, I approached music with seriousness and dedication. Studying and engaging with works and composers from various musical periods served as a source of inspiration for me from an early age, and I was always fascinated by the wonderful feeling of expressing emotions on stage and communicating with the audience. My initial participations and distinctions in national and international competitions also played a significant role.
How did you choose the instrument you specialized in?
Recalling my feelings at the time, I could say now that the timbral richness of this instrument, its countless harmonics, the possibility of endless musical analysis, and more specifically, the expression and phrasing it offers, as well as the precision required to achieve this analysis, were the elements that prompted me to choose and seriously pursue the violin.
Where did you study and which teachers shaped you?
Currently, I am studying on scholarship at Musik Akademie Basel (Bachelor degree) in Switzerland, in the class of the internationally renowned violinist and conductor Leonidas Kavakos. I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Leonidas Kavakos for the first time as a teacher at the LKM – Leonidas Kavakos Masterclass, an international violin and chamber music seminar at the Academy of Athens, where I participated as an active member for three years. Leonidas Kavakos, as a violinist, has always been a role model and source of inspiration for me, and at LKM, I had the unique opportunity to experience his impactful teaching and the positive imprint of his instruction. He is my professor and mentor, who broadens my musical horizons, the way I perceive music, encouraging me to delve deeper into personal analysis and exploration.
In Greece, I studied at two distinguished music institutions in Thessaloniki, the New Conservatory of Thessaloniki and the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, having the honor of being taught by Marina Selkova, Georgios Petropoulos, and Giannis Korbetis, who guided me in my first steps, instilled in me their enthusiasm for music, and contributed significantly to my development and musical journey. At the age of 16, I completed my studies at KOTH, receiving a Violin Diploma with a unanimous grade of Excellent 10. Furthermore, the violinist of the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, Thanasis Theodoridis, also made a decisive contribution to the formation of my musical identity, guiding and supporting me during important periods of my musical development, as did teachers and musicians with whom I had the honor of collaborating in national and international violin masterclasses, including Boris Garlitsky, Christos Galileas, Xie Nan, Daniel Hope, Apollon Grammatikopoulos, Latica Honda Rosenberg, Noe Inui, Tatiana Samouil, among others, through whom I enriched my musical thought, aesthetics, and artistic perception.
Have you participated in competitions? Was there any one of them that decisively pushed you towards your professional career?
From a young age, alongside my musical studies, my participation in significant national and international competitions played an important role. Without being an end in themselves, they always acted as a personal motivation for study and self-improvement. I believe that all these competitions influenced my musical identity and offered me useful experiences and valuable feedback, elements that contribute significantly to the development of a young musician. To date, I have been honored with more than 40 awards (Grand Prizes, Platinum and Gold Medals, First Prizes, etc.), through which I had the unique experience of appearing as a soloist in iconic venues, such as, at the age of 14, Carnegie Hall in New York, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Beethoven Haus in Bonn, and the Athens and Thessaloniki Concert Halls.
When and where did you make your first public appearance? What was the program? Where did it take place and what was the context? What do you vividly remember from that first time?
With great affection and tenderness, I recall my first public appearance, just a few months after I started lessons, with a 1/8 size violin—a very pleasant experience, with a warm audience response and enthusiastic comments from my teacher. However, my first appearance at the iconic Mozarteum concert hall in Salzburg, at the age of 13, was particularly significant, on the occasion of being awarded first prize in the corresponding competition, performing a partita by J.S. Bach. I was truly impressed by the formality of the event, by the grandeur and acoustics of the hall, and by the participation of esteemed musicians from all over the world.
Which of your performances to date will remain unforgettable?
Undoubtedly, my appearance as a soloist at the Weil Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall in New York. The feeling of playing in such an iconic and historic venue, where the greatest personalities of the global music scene have appeared throughout history, is truly unique!
What are your preferences in choosing your repertoire? Favorite works, composers… Which repertoire do you feel suits you best?
As a musician, I have had the opportunity to engage with a fairly broad repertoire through various artistic contexts. I believe that the dynamic course and historical evolution of classical music are timelessly and uniquely reflected in the works of every era, and it is precisely this dynamism that fascinates and inspires me, opening new avenues of thought, study, and interpretation. Every musical period, every work, every composer, therefore, constitutes for me a source of knowledge, inspiration, and expression.
What musical dreams do you wish to fulfill?
My dream is to collaborate with distinguished musicians, conductors, composers, and leading orchestras. I believe that music is primarily a form of communication and dialogue, and that every collaboration will be a unique opportunity for artistic development, mutual inspiration, and a deeper understanding of repertoire. At the same time, I aspire to constantly evolve as a musician, seeking new interpretive approaches and consistently serving the vision of each composer. I believe that the true purpose of every performer is not merely technical proficiency, but the ability to breathe essential life into music through their interpretation and artistic expression, and in this way to move and interact with the audience.
What difficulties does a young musician face in Greece and the world today?
I believe that a challenge for every musician is to successfully combine the high demands for continuous improvement and artistic development with their personal life, family, friendships and interpersonal relationships, sports, and free time for other inclinations and interests. Furthermore, young musicians seek “space” and opportunities to present their work, to highlight their artistic value, to communicate their work to the wider public, both nationally and internationally, and often encounter difficulties in this endeavor.
Have you ever thought about how we could approach young people to get them interested in classical music? How can young people attend more concerts?
The most ideal way for young people to become interested in classical music is, first, to be given the opportunity to get to know it. Family clearly plays a very important role in this. Parents who listen to classical music themselves serve as positive role models for their children, so that they, in turn, feel familiar and comfortable with classical music, especially when children actively attend various concerts. Beyond simple exposure, however, I believe that education should primarily delve deeper and focus more on analyzing the specific characteristics of classical music, so that young people can grasp its magic. In this way, I believe that children will gradually be able to adopt this type of music as an additional means of expression and creation. At the same time, cultural organizations, such as ministries, municipalities, conservatories, orchestras, etc., could “embrace” young people more, providing even more opportunities for participation in various activities, concerts, and educational programs, without financial burden.
Besides music, what are your favorite pastimes?
Music has played a unique role in my life since a young age. Alongside it, however, I am drawn to natural sciences and engineering, as well as various forms of physical activity, such as mountaineering, cycling, and swimming. I believe that sports should be an ally for every musician, whose body often faces challenges and injuries.
Do you consider the presence of a young musician on social media important? Do you use them? If so, do you believe they have helped you in your career?
Indeed, social media today is an important – if not the most important – means of communication, especially among young people. It is therefore logical for a young musician, in order to communicate their work, to have a presence on social networks. However, in my opinion, every musician should always bear in mind that their value is neither determined nor defined by website traffic and likes on social media. Personally, I use social media as a means of communicating my work and for constructive feedback.
Where would you like to be artistically in ten years?
I would like to have fulfilled musical and professional dreams and to have built my personal artistic identity.
How would you like to be remembered as a performer?
I would like my musical imprint to move and inspire, and to be a driving force for young musicians in the future.
Describe yourself in just 3 words
If I could describe myself in just three words, I would say I am dynamic, studious, and goal-oriented.
BIOGRAPHY
Athanasios Kyparos is 19 years old and studies on scholarship at the “Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Musik Akademie Basel – Klassik” University in Switzerland (Bachelor degree Program), under the world-renowned violinist and conductor Leonidas Kavakos. He has won more than 40 awards (Grand prizes, Platinum & Gold medals, First Prizes) in significant international and national music competitions and was selected among the 19 finalists of the renowned “Cooper International Violin Competition” (Oberlin, Ohio USA, 2025).
At the age of 14, he appeared as a soloist at Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall) in New York, as well as in iconic concert halls, such as the Gläserner Saal of the Musikverein (Vienna), the Wiener Saal of the Mozarteum (Salzburg), the Beethoven Haus (Bonn), and the Athens & Thessaloniki Concert Halls. He has performed as a soloist with “MOYSA” – the Youth Orchestra of the Thessaloniki Concert Hall & the “POTONTA” String Ensemble, with the KOTH Symphony Orchestra, and with the Camerata Junior of the Friends of Music Association.
He began violin lessons at the age of five at the New Conservatory of Thessaloniki with Marina Selkova and continued his studies at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, with teachers Georgios Petropoulos and Giannis Korbetis. At just 16 years old, he obtained a Violin Diploma from KOTH with a unanimous grade of Excellent 10 in G. Korbetis’s class.
He was a student of Thanasis Theodoridis and attended violin lessons with Boris Garlitsky and Tatiana Samouil.
For three consecutive years, he actively participated in the LKM – International Violin & Chamber Music Seminar of Leonidas Kavakos at the Academy of Athens (2022, 2024 & 2025). He has participated in seminars by distinguished soloists, such as Boris Garlitsky, Liana Tretiakova, Xie Nan, Daniel Hope, Latica Honda-Rosenberg, Christos Galileas, Apollon Grammatikopoulos, Georgios Demertzis, Dimitrios Chandrakis, Noe Inui, Sibbi Bernhardsonn, Kurt Nikkanen, Georg Hamann, Ben Sayevich, Austin Hartman, and Thomas Dodson. He has performed in solo recitals in the Netherlands, Bulgaria, and Hydra, and has participated as a soloist in many festivals for Award-winning Young Soloists of the Gina Bachauer International Music Association in Athens, Hydra, Corfu, and Lesbos. For two consecutive years, he was distinguished in the innovative program “We Hear the Young” (2025 & 2026) and participated in chamber music concerts at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki and in Vratsa (Bulgaria).
Additionally, he has participated in international summer Music Academies and Festivals, such as the “International Hamburg Soloist Academy,” performing as a soloist with the “Neue Philharmonie Hamburg Orchestra” under the direction of Maestro Petros Stylianou, at the “International Holland Music Sessions 2023,” at the National Music Academy of Sofia with the “Allegra Orchestra” (within the framework of a Conducting Masterclass, under the direction of the distinguished Maestro and Professor of Conducting Johannes Schlaefli), at the “Allegra Festival and Academy 2023 & 2024” in Boris Garlitsky’s class, at “ACT – American College of Anatolia,” at “Art Campus – Friends of Music Association,” at “MOYSA Summer Schools – Thessaloniki Concert Hall,” at the International Pelion Festival, in the innovative international educational program for Music Composition and Performance “MakeMusiCovit,” which was presented at the iconic Rotunda monument (Thessaloniki, 2021), among others. He collaborates as concertmaster and soloist with MOYSA – the Thessaloniki Concert Hall Youth Symphony Orchestra, and has served as concertmaster of the KOTH Symphony Orchestra and the Mandoulides Schools, where he studied on a full scholarship. He has collaborated in various Chamber Music ensembles in Greece and abroad and has participated in composition and conducting workshops. His original composition “Shame & Daring” for string orchestra has been performed at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.
