Yannis Ioannidis

Yannis Ioannidis was born in Athens in 1930. He first studied music (piano and theory) at the Athens Conservatory, while also attending the University of Athens Law School. He completed his music studies (organ, harpsichord, composition, and orchestra conducting) at the Vienna Academy of Music, graduating in 1963 with distinction and an award. He subsequently dedicated himself exclusively to music, as an organist, conductor, composer, educator and writer.From 1963 until 1968, he worked as a teacher at the American College for Girls, and at the German Evangelical Church in Athens as both its organist, and its orchestra and choir director. In 1968, he settled in Caracas, Venezuela, where he first made appearances as a conductor and later served as artistic director of the National Chamber Orchestra. In 1969, he was appointed professor of contemporary music composition at the Caracas Intermusica Institute, and in 1971 was made director of music and professor of composition at the Metropolitan University of Caracas. In 1976, he returned to Greece, teaching composition at the Orfeion Conservatory in Athens (1976-1982). He also served as artistic director and professor of advanced music theory and composition at the Nikos Skalkottas Conservatory (1981-1989), member of the Greek National Opera’s board of directors (1981-1988), director of the Athens State Orchestra (1983-1989), music affairs consultant to the Greek Ministry of Culture, artistic director of the Philippos Nakas Conservatory (1989-1993), University of Athens professor in its Music Studies Department (1991-1994), member of the Ionian University’s administrative committee, member of the Greek Composers’ Union board of directors, and president of various international competition juries.