In 2008, a mixed adult Choir was founded with Mr Vassilis Karras as choirmaster. In 2018, Mr Panagiotis Karpouzos, a Byzantine music teacher, took over. Since 2014, the position of choirmaster has been held by Mr Vassilis Zacharis, Greek Folk Music Teacher at the Music School of Tripoli.
The choir lessons take place every Monday at 18.30-20.00 in Building A of the Cultural Center in Stadio, Tegea. This is a one-voice choir studying songs of the Greek repertoire in an effort to preserve our cultural heritage.
Most of the 40+ members of the group follow the lessons since the very beginning. They perform in their own custom outfit, which includes a long dark blue dress, a red scarf and a discreet pin with the Foundation’s emblem for the women, and a white shirt, dark blue or black trousers and a red tie for the men.
The Foundation’s choir prepares a performance with a different theme every year, usually presented to the public in June. Past performances held over the years include “Tribute to Thrace”, “Tribute to the Fall of Constantinople”, “Eyes seen through folk songs”, “The Sounds of the Castles”, “Oil and Wine”, “Time brings change”.
The choir participates in numerous events held in the wider area. In February 2010, the choir supported an event hosted by the Unborn Child Protection Society “I Agkalia”; in June 2011 participated in a memorial for the fallen pilots in Episkopi, Tegea; in July 2012 in the unveiling of the Ioannis Apostolopoulos’ statue (captain Giannakas), an 1821 hero, in Vlachokerasia, Arcadia; in December 2016 participated in the Choir Festival organised by the “Angeliki and Leonidas Zafeiris” Foundation in Astros, Kynouria e.a..
The Foundation’s Choir also pays visits for charity purposes. In 2015, they visited “The Smile of the Child” in Ancient Corinth and sang carols. In 2015, they visited the Chronically Ill Care Foundation “O Agios Panteleimon” in Sparta. The following year, in 2015-16, they visited the “Kivotos tou Kosmou” Foundation in Athens, for the Season’s carols. The Choir has also visited the Dekazeio Nursing home in Tripoli, as well as the Psychiatric Hospital of Tripoli during the Xmas holidays, to sing carols and hand out gifts.
In 2012 and 2019 the Foundation’s choir attended the concert “Women’s voices in folk song” and the “Choir and Philharmonic Festival” in the Athens Concert Hall.
The choir has also performed jointly with other choirs. In December 2016, the Choir organised a joint Christmas event with the ecclesiastical choir of Saint Tryfonas Parish in Tripoli to perform ecclesiastic hymns and Advent carols. In October 2017, a Choir meeting was organised in Stadio, Tegea, hosting the Municipal Choir of North Kynouria, as well as the “Octava” choir from Spetses’ island.
Choir lessons are offered for free.
