In the spirit of the season, the University of Athens celebrated Christmas with a series of high-quality cultural events that put both young and senior members of our University community, as well as residents of Athens, in the festive mood.
On Saturday, 21 December 2024, the historic Propylaea building of the University of Athens resonated with young voices and artistic creation! The children and teenagers participated in theatrical and musical workshops, made handicrafts, listened to Christmas stories, and played games! Elves and stilt walkers—the main characters of Christmas and the New Year—also took part in the festivities! During the workshops, Christmas stories were brought to life, talking about love, solidarity, and the rituals and customs of the holiday season. At the same our youngsters wrote messages for children around the world.
Children and grown-ups danced and sang along to the festive rhythms while the elves tried to eat all the sweets and take all the presents, but without success: Santa Claus gave presents to our younger and older friends and led the children to discover the tasty treats!
In a Christmas setting, children and parents gathered with their friends and the main characters of Christmas and the New Year to recall the value of not only working together but also celebrating with colleagues! Where? At the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens!
The Departments of Theatre Studies and Music Studies organized the artistic events. More precisely, Associate Professor Clio Fanouraki and the member of the Laboratory Teaching Staff Ilia Lakidou from the Department of Theatre Studies, as well as Professor Smaragda Chrysostomou, Assistant Professor Angeliki Triantafyllaki, and the member of the Special Laboratory Staff Elissavet Perakaki from the Department of Music Studies created the workshops/activities and had the artistic oversight of the events. Also participating in the events were the ‘Theatre, Philosophy, Education Laboratory’, Director: Giorgos P. Pefanis, Department of Theatre Studies, and the ‘Music Education Lab’, Director: Smaragda Chrysostomou, Department of Music Studies. Significant contributions were made by undergraduate, postgraduate students, as well as PhD candidates at NKUA.
One day earlier, the University of Athens found itself at the heart of the holiday spirit with the old-established Christmas concert of the Department of Music Studies and, at the same time, expanded its activities in the centre of Athens with traditional carols performed by the NKUA’s Department of Music Studies at the City Hall.
More precisely, on Friday, 20 December 2024, the Department of Music Studies’ Orchestra and Mixed Choir performed Bach, Händel, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Fauré, Bartók, Jenkins, Morricone, Suk, Martin, Anderson, et al., in their annual Christmas concert at the University’s Great Hall. Part I: Soloists: Nikoleta Koutsamani, soprano, Pavlos Sifneos, piano, Georgia-Evangelia Kourmpeli, organ, Zoi Tsakoniati, percussion. Orchestra and Mixed Choir of the Department of Music Studies. Conductor: Matthew Legakis. Part II: Orchestra and Mixed Choir of the Department of Music Studies. Conductor: Pavlos Kordis.
Additionally, the University of Athens and the Municipality of Athens, through OPANDA, the City of Athens Culture, Sports, and Youth Organization, wished everyone a Merry Christmas with ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ carols, festive songs, and instrumental tunes from various parts of Greece. The Department of Music Studies (School of Philosophy, NKUA) and the Centre for Greek Music ‘Fivos Anogianakes’ (KEMFA) performed with their traditional music choir and orchestra. The event was part of the series of educational, cultural, and artistic actions of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens under the general title ‘NKUA in the City’ and took place by the entrance of the City Hall. Eleni Baili and Panagiotis Loizou led the orchestra of KEMFA and Evangelia Chaldaeaki conducted the choir. Participating in both ensembles were students at the Department of Music Studies of the University of Athens. Coordination: Alexandros Kapsokavadis και Evangelia Chaldaeaki.
The Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, extending his, the Members of the Administration Council’s and the Vice-Rectors’ wishes for a Merry Christmas and a creative and happy New Year, referred to the importance of this year’s festive cultural events, emphasizing that ‘This year’s Christmas events at the University of Athens included music, dance, and other forms of art, all with the prestige of the University of Athens, promoting cultural expression and creativity for both adults and children in the University community, strengthening social ties, and providing opportunities for shared experiences and the creation of memories. At the same time, these festive events further cement the mark of NKUA on the city of Athens as an Institution that, apart from offering education and research, also promotes culture and the arts.’
Photos: Dimitris Konstantinidis
