3rd Percussion Festival of the GNO Alternative Stage

Alternative Stage Founding Donor

Major Sponsor of the Greek National Opera

Following two successful editions, the Percussion Festival of the GNO Alternative Stage will return for a third, most ambitious run, offering a three-day, captivating experience dedicated to the art of percussion and the dialogue among diverse musical traditions. Scheduled for 1, 2, and 3 July 2026, the Percussion Festival, curated by percussion soloist Marinos Tranoudakis, invites audiences to a fascinating experience of sound and vibrant rhythms that will shake up the GNO Alternative Stage at the SNFCC.

The 3rd Percussion Festival will feature renowned international soloists, distinguished Greek musicians, and emerging artists, offering audiences a diverse programme of concerts, workshops, masterclasses, and educational events. The Festival spans a wide range of the contemporary percussion scene, underscoring its role as one of the most important meeting points in Greece and Europe.

The first day of the Festival (1/7) will feature the internationally acclaimed percussionist Ruven Ruppik at the GNO Alternative Stage, where he will present a programme combining jazz with strong Mediterranean and Eastern influences, accompanied by his trio – the distinguished Dutch pianist Tony Roe and qanun virtuoso Khalil Khoury. On the same day, Ruppik will also conduct a specialized seminar on the hybrid percussion set based on the cajón and its contemporary applications.

Next, the programme will feature a concert by vibraphonist Vangelis Paraskevaidis and his ensemble, Electrolytes, a modern jazz-fusion group that blends improvisation with electric sounds and polyrhythmic structures. The band consists of Vangelis Paraskevaidis (vibraphone), Menios Gounaris (percussion), Panagiotis Bourazanis (electric bass), and Christos Vigos (drums). On the same day, Vangelis Paraskevaidis will lead a vibraphone improvisation seminar focused on the art of jazz improvisation.

Τhe day’s programme will begin with percussion soloist Marinos Tranoudakis, who will present a special concert titled “The Timpani Project,” dedicated to orchestral timpani. The concert will highlight the timpani's solo role, showcasing their sound and expressive potential through an original lineup of works. It will feature compositions by Johann Carl Christian Fischer, Étienne Perruchon, and Nick Bowd – all of whom have decisively contributed to both the expansion of the timpani repertoire and the development of their technical capabilities. Joining Tranoudakis onstage will be the brass wind ensemble Melos Brass and cellist Nikolaos Prevezianos.

The second day (2/7) will feature two leading percussion soloists from Germany: the internationally acclaimed percussionist and composer Alexej Gerassimez and the renowned drummer and educator Benny Greb.

Alexej Gerassimez, one of the most important representatives of the modern solo percussion scene, will conclude the day with a unique concert titled “Black Mountain”, in which he will perform alongside emerging young Greek and Cypriot percussionists. He will also conduct a masterclass for active participants.

The masterclass will be preceded by a concert by Benny Greb, featuring compositions and improvisations that showcase his distinctive personal style. In the morning of that same day, Greb will also hold a drum seminar titled “From Good to Great: The Five Components of Musicality in Drums,” where he will share his philosophy on modern sound, rhythmic perception, and creative approaches to drum sets.

The third and final day of the Festival (3/7) will conclude with a powerful concert dedicated to Cuban music, featuring the charismatic singer Rosanna Mailan and her band performing a programme of Latin rhythms and Cuban energy. The concert will also feature Cuban musician Carlos Menendez, who will also present a seminar on the rhythmology and technique of traditional Cuban percussion, focusing on the instruments congas, bongos, timbales, and Batá, and highlighting the Afro-Cuban roots and techniques that have shaped contemporary Latin-American music. The day’s programme will also include an inclusive, multisensory body percussion workshop titled “B(l)aloon,” designed for individuals with or without visual or hearing disabilities. The workshop will be led by Yiota Peklari, Natasha Martin, Vassia Zorbali, Olga Dalekou, Thanos Daskalopoulos, and Christos Koutsovasilis. The event will conclude with the presentation of the show “B(l)aloon,” which will emerge from the workshop’s philosophy and explore rhythmic communication through the body, movement, and sound.