Vassilis Varvaresos to Give Benefit Piano Recital at Carnegie Hall

Multi-awarded pianist from Thessaloniki, Vassilis Varvaresos, will give a benefit piano recital on coming Monday, March 19, at the NY Carnegie Hall.

The recital is being organized by the Cyprus Federation of America and aims at financially supporting the Federation’s “Philanthropic Fund”, which is responsible for aiding ill children and their families travelling from Greece and Cyprus to New York for medical treatment and tests.

“The world renowned soloist has decided to participate in the event with no personal profit. Such donations are important to our cause, since there are always new emerging cases of people who need our help” said Peter Papanikolaou, the President of the Federation, during a press conference in the Cyprus House of NY, where all diplomatic and consular authorities of the Republic of Cyprus are housed.

Mr. Papanikolaou thanked the Greek pianist for his overall philanthropic contribution, which does not merely include the upcoming recital but several concerts in the past. Moreover, he noted that besides the tickets sales, the event is also being generously sponsored so that the goal of gathering $100,000 may be easier achieved.

General Consul of the Republic of Cyprus, Coula Sofianou, commented that such events combining art and charity are most needed and welcome.

On his part, the 29-year-old pianist thanked the organizers and the General Consulate of the Republic of Cyprus and presented the program he will perform, including Forquera “Y La Rameau”, D’Agincourt “Les Danses Provençales”, Debussy “Estampes”, MESSIAEN “Regard de l’Esprit de joie” from Vingt regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus, Liszt “Sonata in B Minor” and works by Balbastre, Couperin, Rameau, and Wagner.

Born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1983, Mr. Varvaresos started studying music at the age of five.  He began to read notes and play the piano so quickly that he was given a scholarship to the Conservatory of Northern Greece.  He continued his studies at the Conservatory of Thessaloniki with Milena Mollova. He won First Prize in the 1995 Petar Konjovic International Competition in Belgrade and the 1996 Pan-Hellenic Young Artist Competition in Athens, and was chosen as one of eleven young musicians from around the world to perform in Monte Carlo in a special “Little Mozarts” concert organized by Italy’s RAI TV.  Mr. Varvaresos won First Prize at the 1998 Young Concert Artists International Auditions at the age of 14, the youngest pianist ever to win the Auditions. In 2005, Mr. Varvaresos received a Bachelor of Music degree from The Juilliard School, where he is currently pursuing his Master of Music degree.  He studies at Juilliard with Jerome Lowenthal.