History of the Philharmonic Society of Lefkada

The Philharmonic Society of Lefkada was founded in 1850 by prominent Lefkadians, led by Lady Dorina (Chrysoula) Kalkani-Petritsopoulou, a woman with a profound love for both progress and the arts, by the National Poet Aristotelis Valaoritis, Panos Stefaniatsis (rentier), George F. Kalkanis (medical doctor and Mayor), Konstantinos Filippas (joint property manager of the Municipality of Lefkada and Chief Policeman), by Efstathios Pillikas (Mayor) and Efstathios Sourbis (rentier).

The Philharmonic Society is the oldest association in the region and the second oldest Philharmonic in Greece with an uninterrupted presence throughout the years. During its long life it has experienced days of glory and has presented numerous great distinctions. In 1864, it sang the Hymn for the Union of the Ionian Islands and in 1896 it participated in the Athens’ Olympic Games. In 1906 it took part in the Mesolympiada (the only Philharmonic Orchestra from the Ionian Islands) and in 1983 it was awarded with the Prize of the Academy of Athens. Our Philharmonic was the first -during the last century -to present theater and other remarkable events. It shouldered both the intellectual and artistic movement of its home country and did not suspend its activities even during very difficult times for the island and our country.

Its presence is currently a tradition and it has participated in many events in various parts of Greece and abroad (France, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria). It has appeared on television and on the radio. Its departments make dozens of appearances every year (in concerts, festivals, parades, national and religious celebrations). Every year during the summer it organizes a “Meeting of the Philharmonic” while in December – on the anniversary of its founding (December 12) – it holds a “Three-Day of Festive Events”.

For the completion of the 150th anniversary of its founding, it held a concert at the “PALLAS” Theater in Athens on 16th December 2000 with great success, which was broadcasted by the National Television Broadcast of Greece (ERT) and has been recorded on a CD, available to its friends in the offices of the Society.

On August 5th , 2001, in the context of the Speech and Art Festivals of the Municipality of Lefkada and on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the poet Angelos Sikelianos, it participated in an exceptional concert, presenting with a collective participation the choirs of Lefkada (Musicological Society “Orpheus”, New Choir and “Arion”) the SPIRITUAL EMBASSY of Angelos Sikelianos, with music by Mikis Theodorakis and the baritone Pantelis Kontos as a soloist.

On December 13th – 15th, in 2002 it participated in the 1st International Meeting of Philharmonic Orchestras and, simultaneously, in the 1st International Meeting of Chief Musicians in Corfu, where it was distinguished and received excellent reviews and comments by renowned famous conductors and musicians.

On July 27th, 2004, it participated in the events for the touch of the Olympic flame in Lefkada performing the Olympic Anthem of Spyros Samaras with the collaboration of the following choirs: Orpheus of Lefkada, New Choir of Lefkada, Makrygiannis Choir from Arta and the Choir of Harmony from the city of Preveza. Then, on August 8th, 2004, it participated in the events for the touch of the Olympic flame in Patras, at the invitation of the then artistic director Thanos Mikroutsikos. These events took place in the central square of Agios Andreas in the city of Patras, playing among other musical pieces the Olympic Anthem, with the participation of five (5) Philharmonic Choirs, thirteen (13) choirs and the Patras’ Symphony Orchestra (a total of 660 people) and the Chief Musician Kostis Konstantaras.

On July 1st – 3rd, 2005, it participated in the 1st International Philharmonic Festival in Corfu with the participation of every philharmonic orchestra on the island, the Band of the Municipality of Athens and philharmonic orchestras from Italy, Russia and Austria, receiving comments of praise and corresponding reviews.

On July 4-8, 2010, it performed at the 2nd International Festival of Philharmonic Orchestras in Kos with the participation of twelve (12) philharmonic orchestras from Greece and abroad.

On January 29th, 2017 in the Event Hall of F.S. “PARNASSOS”, in Athens, the Philharmonic Society gave an excellent concert not only to the people of Lefkada residing in Attica, but also to the visitors flooding the hall, by performing parts from the Opera Work “LA TRAVIATA” by G. VERDI, with the participations of the Soprano Evdokia Moissidou, the Tenor Stavros Salabasopoulos and the Baritone Petros Salatas.
Our Philharmonic is a significant chapter for the island of Lefkada and occurs to be the most authentic part of the tradition of the place. It is a musical organization, the core of the cultural activity of the island, at the same time training young people professionally and, actually, with amazing results.

It is a non-profit association with 1000 members.

The Philharmonic has a Music School, a Band, a Bandina and Ensembles.