Approximately $100,000 was raised for the needs of the Hellenic Education Fund of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America through the successful benefit concert recently held in the Weill Recital Hall of the renowned Carnegie Hall complex in Manhattan.
The theme of the concert was ‘The Music of Athanasios Zervas – Letters About Three Luminaries: From Ancient to Modern Hellenism – A Tribute to Greek Education’. Organized by the Department of Greek Education of the Archdiocese, the event marked the feast of the Three Hierarchs and Greek Letters Day.
“It was a way to raise awareness for the support of Greek education, which is why the Archbishop established the Hellenic Education Fund,” said Father Grigorios Stamkopoulous to The National Herald’. He was the head of the organizing committee, along with Dr. John Athas and Dr. Monica Tadros-Athas, who were satisfied with the turnout and the response from the audience.
The evening began with the performance of the ‘Apolytikion’ of the Three Hierarchs – ‘The Three Great Luminaries’ by Archdiocesan Youth Choir under the direction of maestro Kostas Tsourakis. The rest of the evening included classical pieces by Dinos Constantinides and Athanasios Zervas. Soprano soloists Nicoletta Mitroussias and Xanthi Panagiotopoulou, as well as baritone Eleftherios Hasanidis also performed and received warm applause from the audience at the historic Carnegie Hall.
“It was a sold-out concert. The hall was full. We had other requests from interested parties to attend, but they couldn’t get a seat. Everyone left satisfied, after all, Thanasis Zervas has a gift for blending the old with the new, the traditional with contemporary classical music – they combined violin with clarinet and bouzouki!” added Father Stamkopoulous.
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America congratulated the performers and organizers and highlighted the participation of the children’s choir. He emphasized the responsibility everyone has to preserve Greek culture and traditions in America from generation to generation.
“Listening to the voices of our children in this special place reminds us why we fight: for our Greek culture, philosophy, and language. All these are the basis for the formation of Western civilization, and there is no doubt about that. It is up to us to pass on to our children the best elements of this incredible tradition,” said the Archbishop, emphasizing that the effort to support the Education Fund will continue.
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