Born in Athens to musician parents, Krystalia Gaitanou has collaborated with world-renowned conductors such as Kurt Masur, James Levine, Leonard Slatkin, Pinchas Zukerman, and Vladimir Ashkenazy. She has graced the stages of prestigious international festivals, including the Tanglewood Music Festival in the USA, Festival Pablo Casals in France, and the Santo Domingo Music Festival, showcasing her artistry to diverse audiences worldwide.
An accomplished chamber musician and soloist, she has performed at prominent venues such as the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. A member of the Greek National Opera Orchestra, she has also worked with leading ensembles, including the Athens State Orchestra and the European Union Youth Orchestra, establishing herself as a versatile and dedicated performer.
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12 January 2025 19:30
Biography
Born in Athens to musician parents, she studied violin, viola, and advanced music theory at the Musiki Orizontes Conservatory, earning a Viola Diploma, a Harmony Degree, and a Bachelor of Music Studies from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. As a scholarship recipient of the Athens Concert Hall (Alexandra Trianti Bequest), she pursued studies in Paris with Vincent Aucante and later in New York at the Manhattan School of Music with Karen Dreyfus, supported by grants from the Helen F. Whitaker Fund String Initiative, the Onassis Foundation, and the Greek State Scholarships Foundation, earning Master and Professional Studies degrees.
She has participated in prestigious international festivals, including Tanglewood Music Festival in the USA, Festival Pablo Casals in France, and Santo Domingo Music Festival. She has collaborated with numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles in Greece and abroad, under the direction of renowned conductors such as Kurt Masur, James Levine, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Leonard Slatkin, Philippe Entremont, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Pinchas Zukerman.
With a strong interest in contemporary Greek music, she has premiered works by composers like Theodore Antoniou, Antonis Darla, and Iannis Xenakis. At the Athens Festival in 2009, she gave the Greek premiere of viola compositions by award-winning Greek-American composer George Tsontakis.
She is a member of the Greek National Opera Orchestra and served as Principal Viola from 2015-2016. She has also collaborated with the Athens State Orchestra and the Camerata. As a soloist, she has performed with the Broadway Bach Ensemble in New York, the string ensemble of the Athens State Orchestra, and the Athens City Symphony Orchestra.
She teaches viola and chamber music at the Musiki Orizontes Conservatory.