Carmelo Siciliano

Between 2012 and 2019, I spent extended periods in Greece, during which I deepened my knowledge of the modal system of Greek music, the various repertoires of traditional music and rembetiko, and the related instruments (bouzouki, oud, laouto, tambouras, etc.). A key part of my education was studying with renowned musicians (Christos Tsiamoulis, Christos Zotos, Kiriakos Gouventas, Nikos Ikonomidis, Giorgos Pappas), as well as attending courses, lessons, and seminars at important institutions such as the Labyrinth Musical Workshop in Crete (with Sokratis Sinopoulos, Evgenios Voulgaris), the KEPEM – Center for Study and Research on Folk Music “Simon Karas” in Athens (with Periklis Papapetropoulos and Dimitris Mantzouris), and the Museum of Greek Popular Instruments “Fivos Anogianakis” in Athens (with Karolos Kouklakis).

MUSICAL ACTIVITIES. I have performed throughout Italy and in numerous countries (Greece, Austria, Tunisia, Portugal, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Cape Verde, Latvia, Turkey, United Kingdom) as a member of various musical groups, such as the Greek band “MediTerra” (Greek music from the islands and Asia Minor), the duo with French violinist Violette Boulanger (Greek music from the Cyclades and Dodecanese), the group “Kafe Aman” (traditional Greek music and rembetiko), the duo “LauTarèa” with Sergio Pugnalin (lutes and traditional repertoires from various origins), and many others.

In 2010, during a conference held in Seville, Spain, I was awarded the Insignia de Oro Musical by the “Curso de temas sevillanos”, an institution recognized by UNESCO, for my «ongoing work in studying, researching, and promoting Greek music». I am currently involved in extensive dissemination activities to spread Greek culture and music through conferences, cultural meetings, and workshops across Italy.