Alkis Zopoglou

Alkis Zopoglou actively began his pursuit with music at a very early age, playing the percussion, and later clarinet. Very soon, he came across the kanun, and he has been playing it ever since. For eight years, he systematically took lessons in Istanbul. There, he studied and came across the performing styles of various important Istambul kanun players, such as Ahmet Meter, Halil Karaduman, Goksel Kartal and Goksel Baktagir.

He holds a diploma in Byzantine music, and from 1996 to 2003 he worked as a substitute professor at the Music School in Drama, teaching kanun.

Until today, he has developed an intense artistic activity. He takes part in many cultural events. His discography boasts a significant number of collaborations with prominent Greek composers and bands: Chronis Aidonidis, Nikos Saragoudas, Stamatis Kraounakis, Haig Yazdjian, Nikos Filippidis, Theo Kapilidis, En Chordais, and others. He also collaborates with many foreign musicians, such as Theodossi Spassov, Sellahadin Maraqa, Ara Digjian, Kudsi Erguner, Suleiman Erguner, Imane Homsy, Charbel Rouhana, Samir Siblini, Fahrettin Yarkin, Necip Gulses, Hossein Omouni, Kiya and Ziya Tabassian, Ghada Shbeir, Rima Khcheich and others. He has performed concerts in many foreign countries (Germany, France, USA, Canada, Australia, Tasmania, Netherlands, Egypt, Italy, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Mexico, China, Seoul, UAE, Israel, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Oman, Romania, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Ukraine and others). He has represented Greece taught kanun at international Kanun meetings in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon Cyprus and Romania. He is a founding member of the musical ensemble Kontrabando and the artistic director of the Mediterranean Music Festival: mmfestival.ch