Our Story
Music is our passion. Performing is our gift. Culture is our connection.
When a group of like-minded people get together to establish a choir, you can bet it’s going to be a winner. So, just like that, the Australian Hellenic Choir was born in February 2018 by a group of performers who love to entertain people.
The Australian Hellenic Choir (AHC) has a mission to bring the best of Greek music to the community. As a multi-cultural and multi-lingual choir, we want to bring the best music from Greece to the ears and souls of our audience.
The Choir has a singing membership of 45 people and growing with the ultimate number to be 60 members. With equal numbers in the singing parts of tenor, baritone, alto and soprano, the Choir is a finely balanced instrument. This balance of 4 voice harmony creates a beautiful sound as when singing the many classic songs and ballads. Music is arranged to enable all the voices to blend as one voice, creating a new listening experience for our audiences.
A Choir for our Community. A Community in our Choir.
With an objective of bringing 2 concerts a year to the community, the choir is a busy place. Our committee and our Friends of the Choir are engaged in all aspects of running the Choir, from auditions, to rehearsals, the music library, music arrangements, programmes and vocal coaching.
One of our primary goals is to engage other ethnic communities, and with Hellenic communities and undertake collaborate work. Such work builds bridges and strengthens the Australian community. It enhances the Choirs performance flexibility and standards.
The People
The key people that make up the choir are all proud to be involved and give their time to ensure the Choir delivers excellence in choral music and beyond.
James Tsolakis
Founder and President of the Choir
James is a passionate singer, and from an early age has focused on singing various languages. He is a trained spinto tenor, with a repertoire that includes many of the world’s best Arias, from such Operas as Tosca, Carmen, and Turandot. He sings in Australian, Greek, Italian, and French.
James’ personal vision is to see the Choir become a cultural icon that works in the Greek community to bring about education, language and history. He would like to see the choir travel to Greece and perform.
James undertakes the concert and event planning for the Choir, as well as the programmes for the concerts working in conjunction with the Choir’s Musical Director.
James can be contacted on his mobile: 0416 060 700 or by email: jim.tsolakis1@gmail.com
Despina Lucas
Music Choreographics and Vice President of the Choir
Despina Lucas A.mus.A., a lyric soprano was a long time member of the Sydney Philharmonia Choir performing at the opening of the Sydney Opera House, both Sydney Olympic ceremonies, at The Royal Albert Hall in London, and Worcester Cathedral. She was also a backing singer for Barbra Streisand’s Australian tour in 2000. Despina has performed in operas and has had many lead roles in Musical Theatre productions prior to becoming the music teacher at St Spyridon College.
She is currently Choir Mistress of the Greek Welfare Seniors’ Choir which she founded in 2001. Despina is our in-house musical advisor and director. Her dedication to music is a precious resource for the Choir and the Greek community.
Stefanos Maragakis
Choir Pianist
Stefanos was born in Athens, Greece. He began studying classical music at an early age with his mother, later joining a local music school, where he studied classical piano, theory and sight-singing. In 2012, Stefanos moved to Australia. Adjusting to a new lifestyle, language, and culture, he spent the following 2 years learning music on his own. During that time he developed his compositions and improvisation skills, writing for piano and orchestra.
Stefanos resumed his classical training and completed his Certificate of Performance and Associate Degree. He has established his own teaching business “Reverie, Piano Studio”.
In 2020 Stefanos enrolled for his Bachelor of Education Degree. He is currently exploring the music of his homeland culture, mainly Cretan folk music.
Stefanos is the Australian Hellenic Choir’s Pianist. He also works with Leon to arrange the music for the Choir and to deliver new instrumental pieces for use in the concerts.
Leon Vitogiannis
Music Director and Conductor
Leon is an established classical vocalist and conductor in Sydney. As a soloist Leon has appeared with Symphony Central Coast, The Other Theatre co., Opera Carnivale, Sydney Conservatorium Choir, Zhejiang Conservatorium, The Greek Festival of Sydney and private recitals. He also was as an Adjunct artist with ‘Pacific Opera’ in 2019.
Leon has recently graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music having studied classical voice with Andrew Dalton and conducting under George Ellis and John Lynch. He was accepted into postgraduate studies at the University of Sydney in 2021.
Among other musical interests, Leon also has a passion for Greek Music, performing popular music, singing, as well as playing the Bouzouki. . In 2019, he performed as the supporting act for distinguished ‘laiko’ singer, Dimitris Basis. He has recently added Classical Greek music and Greek art song to his repertoire with a vision of re-popularising the genre.
Committee
Secretary
Hrisoula Tzambasi
Treasurer
Dimitri Emmanouilidis
Public Officer
Marina Bournazos
Accountant
Theo Premetis
Committee Members
John Sarastropoulos
Event Space Co-ordinator
Koula Johnson
Event Space Co-ordinator
Fotini Stavridis
Pianist Support
Dimitra Micos
Public Relations
Our Mission
Cultural Preservation
Keeping Greek musical and language traditions alive and vibrant for future generations while making them accessible to all Australians
Community Strengthening
Creating connections within the Greek communities and between the diverse multicultural communities in Australia and beyond
Artistic Excellence
Continuously raising performance standards and delivering memorable concerts that inspire and move audiences
