Simos Papanas

He was born in Thessaloniki. He studied violin, Baroque violin, composition and mathematics. He began his studies at the New Conservatory of Thessaloniki and completed them at Oberlin College and Yale University in the USA. His teachers were Peter Arnaudov, Taras Gabora, Erick Friedman (violin), Marilyn MacDonald (Baroque violin) and Christos Samaras (composition). He has performed as a soloist with many orchestras such as the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, Geneva Camerata, Basel Chamber Orchestra, Athens State Orchestra, TSSO, Camerata – Armonia Atenea, Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation National Symphony Orchestra, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra, Cyprus State Orchestra, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Southwest German Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchester 1756 of Salzburg, Louisiana Sinfonietta, American Bach Soloists and Philharmonia Moments Musicaux of Taiwan. As a soloist, he has recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, BIS and Centaur. He has performed at the Verbier Festival, Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, Bristol Proms, Pollença Festival, Athens Epidaurus Festival and Tokyo Music Festival. His compositions have been performed and recorded in many parts of the world (USA, Russia, Canada, Peru, Iran, Japan, Taiwan and most European countries). He has been concertmaster of the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra since 2003 and its Director since December 2022.