Giannis Zouganelis

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Giannis Zouganelis is a Greek composer, musician, and actor that was born in Athens.

At a pre-school age he started learning Byzantine music with a teacher at the church of St. Nicolas in Athens. During his early school years, he studied guitar and theory of music at the Greek Odium, Athens.

Giannis continued his studies at the National Odium of Greece, where he was first taught the piano, harmony and counterpoint. A determinant at his musical studies was the composer Nick Mamagakis, who taught his orchestration and rhythmics.

In 1975, Giannis won the first composition award for his 'Ten Byzantine Essays' in a competition organized by the Greek Department of Culture, a work of music for small symphony orchestra and mixed chorus.

The Academy of Athens rewarded him with a scholarship, and so Giannis went on to study composition and drama at the Academy of Arts of Munich, from which he graduated with honours. Since 1987, Giannis is emiritus professor at the University of Munich.

Giannis continues to compose music for theatrical shows, cinema, television and for ballet shows. His first work in discography was in 1972 at the age of fifteen and to present date has released over 50 albums.

Giannis' albums consist of mostly instrumental music or music based on the Ancient Greek culture and is amongst the few Greek composers whose albums have been released worldwide.