Aspiring to bridge the gap between the purely lyrical or symphonic repertoire, the Athenian polyphonic tradition and contemporary word creation, the Choir of the Municipality of Athens was founded in 1999 as the third historically Greek professional choir and one of the five independent Music Ensembles of the Municipality of Athens.

Consisting of professional singers, with classical studies and the experience of other music venues, it has established a primary role in the cultural life of the capital and has gained a steady audience, presenting all genres of vocal music, Greek and international, contemporary and classical. Due to its multifaceted profile, it is sought after by composers and musicians and now regularly collaborates with the country’s leading musical ensembles and with institutions such as the Athens and Thessaloniki Concert Hall, the Athens Festival and the Athens House of Arts and Letters, under the baton of many renowned musicians.

Special moments in the Choir’s career were the international collaborations with Jean-Michel Jarre and Ennio Morricone at the Herodeion, as well as the performances at the Moscow Easter Festival “Valery Gergiev” and at the Istanbul International Festival with Xenakis’ “Oresteia” under the direction of Gürer Aykal.

Equally important was her participation in the highly acclaimed recording of Handel’s opera “Alexander” for Decca, with international distribution under the baton of George Petrou. Alongside its artistic contribution, the Choir of the Municipality of Athens performs remarkable educational and social work, presenting specially selected vocal music programmes in schools, friendship clubs, old people’s homes and remote neighbourhoods of the city, while it often participates in events of charitable and philanthropic organisations.

The choir has been directed by Stavros Beris since its inception.

The Big Band of the municipality of Athens was founded in 1998 on the initiative of the virtuoso pianist Yannis Terezakis and since then it has recorded a very active and significant presence in the musical events of the municipality of Athens and the whole of Greece.

Her repertoire includes historical compositions and arrangements of the pioneering composers of music literature for big band ensemble and covers a wide range of jazz music trends. She has given concerts in all major halls and music and arts festivals in Athens, Thessaloniki and the Greek region.

It has been conducted by leading conductors and composers, such as William Russo and Don Owens, and has collaborated with distinguished Greek and foreign soloists, such as: Bobby Shew, Vince DiMartino, Veronica Mortensen, Rex Richardson, Fred Hemke Jr, Chico Freeman, Mark Smith, Nils Landgren, Ralph Peterson Jr, Giorgos Fakanas, Takis Paterelis, Dimitris Vassilakis, Dimitris Tsakas, Giorgos Kontrafouris, Christos Rafaelidis, Giotis Samaras, Craig Bailey, Reiner Witzel etc.

The musicians who make up the Big Band of the Municipality of Athens have been selected among the most skilled Greek soloists and are distinguished for their high virtuosity in improvisation and their flexibility in interpreting the different streams of jazz.

The Hellenic Music Workshop was founded in 1998 with the aim of disseminating Greek light music. In its regular performances it often collaborates with big names of Greek singing such as: Lakis Chalkias, Vassilis Lekkas, Babis Tsertos, Chronis Aedonidis, Maria Dimitriadis, Nikos Dimitratos, Glykeria, Gerasimos Andreatos, Stamatis Kokotas, Nadia Karagianni, Yannis Vogiatzis, Michalis Violaris, Poppi Asteriadis, Takis Kostanakopoulos, Kostas Mantzios, Erofili, Kostas Thomaidis, Penny Xenaki, George Gerolymatos, Elias Klonaridis, Lena Alkaiou, Sofia Vossou, Panagiotis Lalezas, Michalis Dimitriadis, Sofia Papazoglou, Iro Saia, Fotini Velesiotou, Yiota Nega, etc. ά.

She has presented in special tributes the work of important Greek songwriters, such as Yannis Spanos, Apostolos Kaldara, Manos Hadjidakis, Mikis Theodorakis, Vassilis Tsitsanis, etc. At the same time, he has performed special tributes to rebetiko, folk, demotic and art song in numerous concerts.

From time to time he has been present at carnival programmes and Christmas concerts of the Municipality of Athens with folk and demotic songs, as well as in the framework of cultural festivals.