Maria Spanou
Maria Spanou was born in Thessaloniki where she began studying violin at the State Conservatory with Konstantinos Vamvas. She continued her studies with Stelios Kafantaris, in whose class she graduated with “Excellent, unanimous”. She continued her studies at the Vienna Academy of Music in the solo department, where she studied with M. Schnitzler and Klaus Meatzl.
In 1997 she received the “Magister” diploma with “Excellent with distinction”. She won first prize at the SAOTH competition in 1988, winning a scholarship for a seminar with Mr. Christos Polyzoidis.
In 1994 she won a scholarship from the Athens Megaron and in 1996 she shared first prize at the “Andreas Makris” pan-Hellenic competition.
She participated in many youth orchestras, such as the European Youth Philharmonic in 1992 and was the principal conductor of the Austrian Youth Philharmonic in 1997 with concerts in many large halls in Austria. She has also worked in seminars with Giorgos Demertzis, E.Zienkowski, J.Hell, Anita Vamos, the Paris Trio, etc. She has appeared many times as a soloist with the Thessaloniki Municipal Orchestra and has participated in many chamber music ensembles, often making first pan-Hellenic and world performances of works.
She has participated in various festivals, such as “Synthermia” with the Idee Fixe ensemble, the Musica polonica Nova festival in Poland, the inter-Balkan festival of contemporary music, etc. Since 2002 she has been a permanent member of the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra. She has taught for 7 years at the State Conservatory, the conservatory Philippos Nakas has been teaching at the New Conservatory of Thessaloniki for 7 years.