Simos Papanas

Born in Thessaloniki (Greece). He studied violin, baroque violin, composition and mathematics. He began his studies at the Neo Conservatory of Thessaloniki and he completed at the Oberlin College and Conservatory and at the Yale University of the USA. His teachers were Petar Arnaudov, Taras Gabora, Erick Friedman (violin), Marilyn McDonald (baroque violin) and Christos Samaras (composition). As a soloist, he has collaborated with many orchestras, such as the Bolshoi Orchestra, Geneva Camerata, Kammerorchester Basel, Athens State Orchestra, Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, Armonia Atenea, National Symphonic Orchestra of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, Sofia Philarmonic Orchestra, Sofia Soloists, Cyprus State Orchestra, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra 1756 (Salzburg), Louisiana Sinfonietta, American Bach Soloists, Philharmonia Moments Musicaux (Taiwan), among others. As a soloist, he has recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, BIS and Centaur. He has performed in festivals such as Verbier, Sommets Musicaux Gstaad, Festival de Pollença, Athens Epidaurus Festival and Tokyo Music Festival. His compositions have been performed and recorded around the world (USA, Russia, Canada, Peru, Iran, Japan, Taiwan and most European countries). Since 2003, he has been principal of the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra and, since December 2022, its director.