General Information
The “Athens Conservatoire” (greek: Odeion Athinon) is the oldest educational institution for the performing arts in modern Greece, founded as a non-profit organization in 1871.
The institution played a significant role in the advancement of music studies in Greece since day one. Some of the most renowned Greek musical personalities internationally have graduated from the Athens Conservatoire including Spyros Samaras, Dimitiris Mitropoulos, Nikos Skalkottas, Maria Callas, Gina Bachauer, Alexandra Triantis, Mikis Theodorakis, Dimitris Sgouros, etc., as well as many members of the Athens State Orchestra, the National Theatre, the Athens Choir etc.
Meanwhile, the first Drama School in Greece, also founded in 1871, has had a pivotal role in the advancement of theatrical studies in the country and many prominent theatre personalities were included among its teaching staff, such as, Thomas Oikonomou, Emilios Veakis, Dimitris Rontiris, Kostas Mousouris, Dimitris Murat and others.
Today, apart from continuing to offer to its c.700 music students the full range of classical music studies, from the earliest stages to the concert diploma, the Athens Conservatoire is constantly expanding into new areas, like the Jazz Department which includes leading Greek jazz musicians among its teaching staff and has gained significant momentum, the Centre of Early Music which offers new insights into historically informed performance to a growing number of students in collaboration with international institutions such as the Haute École de Musique of Geneva, the Festival of Ambronay in France and the University of Leeds, while various other specialized seminars in all music disciplines continue to broaden the school’s standing in the contemporary musical scene.
Get the know the Athens Conservatoire!
