On Tuesday, March 24th, 2026, the “Yannis Mantakas” Choir of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki took part in the official celebration of the Greek National Anniversary of March 25th, held in the University’s Ceremony Hall. It was an honor for us to contribute once again to a long-standing institutional tradition that connects the academic community with history, culture, and collective memory.
The event, dedicated to both the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and the Greek War of Independence, featured the keynote address of Professor Emeritus Georgios Babiniotis, titled “The influence of the Modern Greek Enlightenment on the awakening of the Nation in 1821. Adamantios Korais and Rigas Feraios”.
Our Choir, together with the AUTh Symphony Orchestra, provided the musical framework of the ceremony, performing works that reflected the spirit of the day and concluded the evening with the National Anthem.
Programme
Kontakion (arr. Christos Samaras): Ti Ypermacho
Mikis Theodorakis: Temples in the Shape of the Sky (excerpt from “Axion Esti”)
Nikolaos Mantzaros (arr. Vasilis Tenidis): National Anthem
Participants
“Yannis Mantakas” Choir, AUTh
Choral Workshop of the School of Music Studies, AUTh
Erifili Damianou, choir director
AUTh Symphony Orchestra
Vladimiros Symeonidis, conductor
