Music is a philosophy, a way of life. A dreamed path that requires devotion, discipline, physical and mental strength. It is a continuous effort for self improvement and an ongoing struggle for perfection' music is a lover which brings both happiness and tears. And only when it has been tamed in hands or in voice, music becomes a consolation, a friend who waits patiently each day to share the deepest feelings. That is why I love music so much, because it is always there when I want to express myself, but most importantly because music taught me life! And all of these started in front of a sound box.

 

I was standing there in front of the sound box for hours and every time that the violin played the theme I was saying: “Dad listen! This is a violin, this is a violin”! It did not take too much time for my parents to realize that I wanted to learn how to play the violin. Despite the fact that I was merely five years old, my father found a school of music near our house and sent me there twice a week for violin lessons. I was so excited! My mother, however, tried many times to change my decision telling me that I should probably learn piano as my sister did, or guitar in order to amuse my friends in the future. Luckily for me my violin teacher heard my mother's efforts to dissuade me and told her that it is really rare to find a kid who asks for violin lessons. “Don't make her change her mind! Most of the parents bring their children here by force and kids do not like the instrument in this way. Can't you see how much your daughter loves violin”? And ever since my mother was the first to support my musical decisions.

 

After changing three professors I finally found my mentor, Dr. Kosmas Galileas. He was a famous violinist and a brilliant conductor. A man who founded two Conservatories and a municipal orchestra in the city of Thessaloniki and who offered eagerly his knowledge to ambitious young musicians as myself. I cannot describe in words how grateful and blessed I feel for this acquaintance. Dr. Galileas was not just a professor to me, but also a father. He was my first music father! From the first time that he listened to my music he said to my parents that I must follow the music path. He believed in me with all his heart and he was there every single day to make my musical dream come true.

Seven years after our first lesson Dr. Galileas left from my life. His death was unexpected and unbearable for all the musicians of Thessaloniki. “How did this happen”? I was asking myself over and over again. No sleep, no food, no music for me. The violin was closed for days. How could I possibly perform again without thinking of him? The loss was too big. I had lost my father, the man who taught me discipline, persistence, patience and devotion. I can still hear him in my head saying: “Play this passage once more. You have to be patience. You have to give time to your music to grow gently and softly in your heart and in your soul. Keep on practicing”. Sorrow and grief prevented me from following these words for a while, until music came back with the beautiful melody of Mendelssohn' s violin concert. I stood in front of the sound box once more and my heart stopped weeping for a while. An inner force urged me to reopen my soul to what I had loved most, the sound of my music. At that time I realized that the best way to honor the memory of my beloved instructor was simply keep practicing.

 

Obsessed with practicing and the effort to achieve a perfect technique, I found myself in a neurotic situation. The hands were in terrible pains and my mind was incapable of making the right decisions. Unfortunately my professors at that time could not see this obsession. The result was to stop improving my playing because of the physical pains and this led me to press myself even more. I was miserable and unhappy and moving in the wrong direction. What gave me once such happiness and energy, brought me tears and made me hate myself. “How could music do this to me? I tried so hard, I loved music beyond measure and this is my reward? Broken hands and a crushed soul”? Theses questions tortured me every night and sleep was difficult to come. My beautiful dream became a nightmare and no light was there for me at that time.

 

In order to escape my miserable feelings and find a way to express myself I started voice lessons. In less than two months my professor, Siranous Tsalikian, told me that I have potentials for opera singing.

 

Once more I chose to devote myself in music and decided to do it in the right way. Singing gave me life. It gave me reason to get up every morning and try to improve myself not only for becoming a better musician, but also a better person. “Because music derives from human's soul. You have to listen to yourself and accept who you are. Only then will you be able to sing free and express your emotions as you wish. Don't forget to give time during practicing and be patience. When the time is right music will come without extra effort”. Those were my professor's words in almost every lesson. She taught me how important is to love myself as I am, even with flaws. It was difficult for me to accept my imperfections, and I realized that all these years I was trying to change everything about me and become someone else, someone perfect. This attitude made my life unhappy; in order to feel better I chose to pressure myself hard to achieve perfection. The time to change this situation had arrived and I was determined to develop my personality without trying to become a “perfect” stranger...     

 

In the following four years I managed to obtain with the grade of A three music diplomas in Violin, Harmony and Counterpoint and I was also preparing my voice diploma. At that time I made my decision to continue studies in the United States and major in opera. After thorough research, music Master Classes and several applications, I was accepted at the Georgia State University School of Music.

 

Being a student of the director at the School of Music, and obtaining several scholarships and music awards from the university, has helped me to understand that persistence, discipline and faith can bring someone one step closer to the dream. My dream remains simple and  same as that from the first day in front of the sound box; to live a life full of music. I do not know what tomorrow could possibly bring and if opportunities to a future opera career might occur, but I do no that no matter how things work out I will always find a way to keep music in my heart and be open to the changes that will bring personal inner growth. Being able to express emotions and life in this way is something that cannot be described in simple words because:

 

Music is my life, my beautiful dream, the reason I wake up each morning. It gives me strength to bear difficulties and sorrows in the world and in my heart. In winter she holds my hand as a friend and sings with me for spring to come. Music is the angel that comes in my sleep and gently wakes me up to live.