Alexandros Panayi

Alex Panayi 2011

Alexandros Panayi (Greek: Αλέξανδρος Παναγή, also known as Alex Panayi, born June 24, 1970), born in Nicosia, Cyprus is a Greek Cypriot singer, composer, lyricist, producer, vocal coach, and vocal arranger. He is best known for having represented his country twice at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1995 & 2000.

Early life and education

Alex Panayi grew up in a family of musicians and artists, and took his first musical steps under the guidance of his father Panayiotis Panayi (founder of the first symphony orchestra in Cyprus), and his mother Klairy Panayi (acclaimed Cypriot pianist). By the age of 18 he had already established himself as one of the leading singers and songwriters of his country, moving on to study music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, sponsored by the Fulbright Scholarship (BMus, Honors). During his five-year stay in the United States he had the opportunity to perform with artists such as Gary Burton, Peter Erskine, The Manhattan Transfer, The New York Voices and Billy Joel. He also toured the USA as a member of The Vocal Summit – an a capella free improvisation vocal group – gaining the "Outstanding Musicianship Award" from the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE).

Eurovision 1995

Eurovision Song Contest

Alex's involvement with the Eurovision Song Contest includes:

Musical Work

Alex Panayi 2012

Alex currently lives between Athens, Greece and Nicosia, Cyprus where he directs his company "Silver Spotlight Productions LTD" and also coaches and performs with Greece's leading artists including Peggy Zina Kostas Martakis and Anna Vissi. He is also a vocal producer and vocal coach in other European countries working with performers such as Helena Paparizou, Philipp Kirkorov, Kamaliya and with producers such as Bruce Lowe, Philipp Kirkorov, Dimitris Kontopoulos and Uwe Fahrenkrog. He has performed on occasion at the "Herodion" Theatre of the Acropolis and has been Regional Music Supervisor for Disney, Buena Vista. Alex has been the official Greek voice of many Disney characters such as Tigger (only his singing voice) and has starred in more than 40 movies such as Lion King 2, Simba's Pride,Tarzan, Mulan, Brother Bear, and many TV shows – he has the role of Johnny in the Greek production of Disney's Johnny and the Sprites, Captain Monogram, Dad, Irving, Buford, Norm, Roger in Disney's Phineas and Ferb. In 1998 he performeD the singing voice of Moses and Jethro in the first classic animated movie of DreamWorks, The Prince of Egypt. He has also performed in Musical Theatre productions in Athens such as Grease in the rôle of Kennickie, and the Nikos Karvelas musical "Mala" in the rôles of Moses & Abraham. Alex was producer and manager of the group Triimitonio releasing the album Triimitonio and the single "Hamogela" He is also the lead vocalist and co-producer of the album Native Hue (arranged by Matheson Bayley), featuring him reinterpreting several classic Eurovision songs through different genres. Alex was a teacher of vocal arts at the "Fame Studio" free study music school in Athens, and assists various TV and live music shows as artistic director. He has participated in many TV shows in Greece and Cyprus as a vocal coach, judge, co-host and panellist – X-Factor, "Get on Stage", "DanSing for You", "The Music Box". He has written the script to, directed and written music and lyrics for the hit musicals "Feggaromberdemata" (Moon Tangles), "Esmeralda", and "Mia Mera Tou Dekemvri" (A Day in December), all staged in Cyprus. He was commissioned by UNESCO to write a new musical to celebrate the presidency of Cyprus to the EU. The musical named "Di-mentia" premiered in Paris on 15 October 2012. The musical "Gourouniasmata" for young viewers and their families premiered on December the 22nd 2012, played sold out performances throughout Cyprus and preparations are under way to transfer the production to Athens, Greece and the former Soviet states, adapted in Russian. The sequel "Gourouniasmata 2; Adventure in the Forest" premiered in Nicosia 20 December 2013. In June 2012 he co-founded (with close collaborator and friend Katerina Christofidou) in Cyprus, an international production company, "Silver Spotlight Productions" (A.Panayi & K.Christofidou Productions LTD) offering services ranging from composition, staging, direction, choreography, organisation, artist management, big band and symphonic orchestration and recording, to full music (cd and live) and theatre composition and production. Silver Spotlight is the production company for the original hit musicals "Di-Mentia", "Gourouniasmata", "Gourouniasmata 2" and all upcoming projects.

Social Contribution

Alex is also known in Cyprus for his active role in fundraising for charity. He is a permanent volunteer for the Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society with many of his productions' proceeds going to their fund, and has acted in the official 2012 and 2013 TV spots. His experience with his mother's condition has also made him a vehement spokesman for Alzheimer's awareness. His musical "Di-Mentia" was based on this experience.

Discography

Trivia

Alex speaks fluently Greek, English, and French He also has a basic knowledge of Italian and Spanish

Preceded by
Evridiki
with Ime Anthropos Ki Ego		 Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest
1995 		Succeeded by
Constantinos Christoforou
with Mono Yia Mas
Preceded by
Marlain Angelidou
with Tha 'Ne Erotas		 Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest
2000 		Succeeded by
ONE
with Gimme
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