Dr. Euripides Bekos
Euripides Bekos (b. 1991) is a composer, researcher and educator. Described as "the holder of impeccable compositional craftsmanship and orchestration" (George Leotsakos, Critic's Point), having "exhibited a well-balanced economy of expressive dimensions, beautiful, radiant orchestration, as well as a cultivated sensibility for eclectic references" (Giannis Svolos, EfSyn) and presenting a “clear sense of sonic nuances” (Philippe Forget, conductor) his work reflects a commitment to both technical refinement and artistic expression.
His work has been recognized with multiple national and international awards, including the Nikos Skalkottas International Prize (NEOTTIAN for orchestra, 2019) and the Best Greek Composer Under 35 Award from the Greek Composers’ Union and the Athens State Orchestra. Other distinctions include First Prize in the 1st Chamber Music Composition Competition in Memory of Theodore Antoniou (ELYSIAN, for chamber ensemble, 2020), Second Prize in the Greek National Opera’s Composition Competition for Art Song (L’ ENFANT for mezzo-soprano and orchestra, 2021), Young Conductors/Young Composers II (FIDEM for orchestra, 2019) organized by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Thessaloniki Municipal Orchestra, and Third Prize in the Dimitris Dragatakis Composition Competition (METEIKASMA for string quartet, 2018). In 2024, he received the Diploma for Pedagogical Excellence at the XI International Competition (Smederevo) as a composition teacher and served as a jury member for the 1st National Composition Competition "Anamochlefsis", organized by The Friends of Music Society of the Athens Concert Hall (2024).
He has received commissions by leading ensembles and institutions, and his works have been performed by the Athens State Orchestra (Palingenesis (2020) – symphonic work dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, L’Avenir de l’oiseau en cage (2021) – chamber music work for the project Ad Libitum), the Greek National Opera (NAMA for solo piano, premiered at the Piano Festival of the Alternative Stage of the GNO), the Thessaloniki Concert Hall (Contemporary Music Workshops in 2012 & 2018), Phasma Music (Works for Solo Flute in memory of Theodore Antoniou, distributed by NAXOS), Takis Foundation (new electroacoustic works to be premiered in fall 2025) and others. His compositions have been presented in Greece, Austria, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
He studied Music Theory (Harmony, Counterpoint, Fugue, Orchestration) and Piano at the Municipal Conservatory of Larissa and earned a degree in Composition from the Department of Music Science and Art at the University of Macedonia (prof. E. Kikou and G. Kyriakakis). He also studied in the composition class of prof. Christos Samaras. He has completed his PhD research in composition at Leeds School of Arts (Leeds Beckett University, UK), focusing on composition for symphonic orchestra and electronics with immersive audio, under the supervision of Nikos Stavropoulos (PhD award pending, expected by mid-2025). He has participated in numerous seminars, workshops, and individual lessons with internationally renowned composers and professors, including Samuel Andreyev, Christos Chatzis, George Tsontakis, Elainie Lillios and others. He is also a member of the Greek Composers’ Union.
In addition to his work as a classical composer, he has collaborated as a composer and producer with leading Greek artists, including Vasilis Papakonstantinou, Giannis Zouganelis, Dimitris Zervoudakis among others. His discography includes four personal albums released by MINOS-EMI, Universal Music Greece, AVLOS Records, and other major labels.
Over the past decade, he has taught composition and music theory, preparing students for the degrees of Harmony, Counterpoint, Fugue, and Concert Band Orchestration, as well as for entrance examinations to renowned music universities in Europe. Some of his students have already received distinctions in national and international competitions.
His research focuses on immediacy in musical expression through a postmodern lens, integrating diverse musical elements to reflect the multifaceted nature of human perception and aesthetic experience. His compositional approach moves beyond rigid stylistic affiliations, fostering a dialogue between multiple influences to create an expressive space that balances instinct with intellectual depth. Additionally, his research interests encompass electroacoustic music and immersive audio utilizing the spatial dimension of sound as a dramaturgical and expressive medium, exploring how spatialized sonic environments expand the musical experience at the intersection of technology and artistic expression. (www.euripidesbekos.gr)