Events › Staircase Sounds: Luthieros

The Staircase Sounds concert series continues with special guests Luthieros, visiting all the way from Greece. They are a family of artisans who research, design, and build instruments based on ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine designs and perform the music of these cultures on their custom, handmade instruments.

Since 2015, Luthieros has teamed up with several universities (such as the International Hellenic University and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) to recreate working replicas of these ancient musical instruments. As a result, it has a team of highly experienced luthiers with a global reputation and a focus on ancient musical heritage.

Don't miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn about these instruments and their history, mythology, their relationship with philosophers and Gods, and listen to professional musicians play each one.

--

Luthieros are based at the SEIKILO Museum of Ancient Music in Thessaloniki, Greece. SEIKILO Museum of Ancient Music is the first museum in the world where visitors can interact with all its exhibited artifacts, listen to the sound of the exhibited ancient instruments, and have hands-on experiences with them.

Thanasis Kleopas is a world-renowned musician who has performed live worldwide. He is a beloved lyre player, performing on an ancient Greek lyre of Apollo, drawing inspiration from Greek folk music to compose deeply emotion-provoking melodies. His compositions are a testament to his deep love for his Greek origins and ancient world music.

Theodore Koumartzis is a renowned lyre player and the visionary behind the pioneering SEIKILO Museum of Ancient Music in Thessaloniki. In addition to being a memeber of the Luthieros family of luthiers, Theodore's multifaceted musical journey also encompasses the founding of two bands, the folk fusion band "Reggetiko Project" and the ancient world music ensemble "Pausis," releasing several music albums over the past decade and performing live in venues around the globe.

Marios Podaras is an experienced musician focusing on ancient and contemporary string instruments, such as the pandura and the violin. His extensive education in classical music began at the age of 4 and continues to this day. As part of his artistic journey, Podaras engaged in numerous musical endeavors, including bands in Greece and abroad. His penchant for exploring diverse musical realms allows him to highlight his talents across different genres, ranging from rebetiko, rock, blues, and jazz to psychedelic music.

--

This program is being presented in collaboration with the University of British Columbia's Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies.

This program is generously supported by VPL Foundation donors.