In the Municipality of Aristotelis, with the participation of 150 or more choristers, the following choirs exist:
• Arnaia
• Megali Panagia
• Stagira-Akanthos
• Paleohori
• Stanos
Mixed Choir of Arnaia
The Mixed Choir of the Aristotelian Cultural Center of Arnaia was founded in November 1983 with the aim of developing choral music and preserving and promoting the traditional songs of the area.
The undisputed architect and the greatest contributor to this journey is the maestro Vassilis H. Kokkaliaris, the leader and conductor of the choir since its inception in 1983. An iconic figure whose contribution to the region is immense and invaluable. Arnaia, Byzantine music, folk music, and choral music owe much to him.
Naturally, the choir did not emerge without prior contributions, nor did it remain at the forefront of musical events for so many years without the tireless efforts of many Arnaian residents, many of whom were honored during the 40th-anniversary event of the choir’s foundation.
The milestones are many and important, and at each one, the protagonists of the history stand out…
In 1968, the then mayor of Arnaia, Spyros Charistos, organized the first group of singers of the Arnaian tradition from within the community and recorded with the help of EIRT and Takis Samaras the traditional songs of Arnaia.
In 1980, during the presidency of Ioannis T. Kotsanis of the Arnaia Cultural Association, a choir was founded in Arnaia. The position of choir master was taken on a voluntary basis by Pantelis Zografos. In 1981, as the General Secretary of the Cultural Association, he actively participated and decisively contributed to the recording of the folk songs that took place in the technical office of the then president of the association, Asterios Karastergios.
Also, Pantelis Zografos played a leading role in the effort to release cassettes of the folk songs of Arnaia that had been recorded by Takis Samaras. These cassettes reached every household in Arnaia, and our folk songs became the property of even those who did not know them, especially the young people. At all the cultural events of the Cultural Association, which were diverse and numerous at the time, the folk songs of Arnaia monopolized the musical background, both before and after the events. The authentic rendition of these songs began to be hummed even by those who had not known them before!
From 1983 until 2020, he was an active member of the choir in the tenor section and passionately served the purposes and actions of the choir, participating in all its activities and performances both in Greece and abroad.
In 1990, together with the then Mayor Asterios Karastergios, maestro Vassilis Kokkaliaris, and Giorgos Roukas, they curated and took part in selecting the songs and the music, preparing the material for the release of a double music album of folk songs, which was eventually – once prepared – released in 1992 during the mayoralty of Asterios Zografos, under the title “In the Narrow Streets.”
Giorgos Roukas also played a leading role in the release of the landmark album of 8 CDs, “The Musical Heritage of Arnaia – Songs and Melodies of Our Land,” which was produced during the mayoralty of Christos Pahtas, as part of the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the choir.
The President of the choir for most of its 40-year history has been Christos Serdaris. He has been present in both the easy and the difficult moments of the choir’s journey. A large percentage of its successes and achievements bear his signature. The roof of the Philharmonic and the choir carries his stamp as well.
A significant role in this journey was also played by Asterios T. Karastergios, former Mayor of Arnaia during the period 1982-1990.
In 1980 and 1981 (as vice president and president of the Cultural Association), he proposed and decided to establish the first choir as part of the cultural association, with Pantelis Zografos as the choir master. During the same period, at his initiative – a proposal to the board – it was decided to register and distribute the folk songs of Takis Samaras (the 1968 recordings) to the residents. During this period, in his technical office, traditional folk songs were recorded on cassettes (without musical accompaniment) and the authentic folk songs of Arnaia were preserved, sung by the last passionate folk singers of Arnaia.
In 1983, Vassilis Kokkaliaris was hired as the Philharmonic’s musician and the choir’s conductor. The new choir he created, with new members and a foundation from the Cultural Association’s choir, joined the Municipality and was named the Mixed Choir of the Municipality of Arnaia.
With personal interventions – and a free study from the technical office (Karastergios – Serdaris Siopis) – he managed to amend the study of the building for the current Children’s Station, which initially provided for a single-story building. This ensured a decent and large semi-basement space for the choir and the Philharmonic.
In 1985, at the initiative of the mayor, the choir’s uniforms were made (the same uniforms that the choir has worn for the last 38 years).
In 1986, at the initiative of Mayor Asterios Karastergios and with funding from the Ministry of Culture (Minister Melina Merkouri) and participation from the Municipality, the Municipality of Arnaia’s Choir spread its wings and flew to Innsbruck, Austria, participating in international musical events organized by the Austrian Congress.
In 1987, with the same channels of communication, state and municipal funding, the Choir of the Municipality of Arnaia participated as a representative of Greece in the International Choral Festival in Alava, Spain. The same year and the following year (1987 and 1988), the choir participated in the 10th and 11th International Choral Festival in Kefalonia.
In 1990, together with maestro Vassilis Kokkaliaris, Pantelis Zografos, and Giorgos Roukas, they curated the selection of songs and musicians and prepared the material for the release of a double album of traditional songs that was eventually – once prepared – released in 1992 during the mayoralty of Asterios Zografos, under the general title “In the Narrow Streets.”
In 1997, through the efforts and initiatives of Mayor Asterios Zografos, the Choir, as a representative of Greece, participated in the Greek Cultural Week organized by the Municipality of Barcelona.
In 2001, Christos A. Pahtas, former Deputy Minister of Finance and former Mayor of Arnaia, financed and helped the choir participate in the World Choral Festival in Puebla, Mexico.
In 2002, the choir participated in three remarkable concerts with the Estudiantina of New Ionia, Magnesia, at the “Celebration of Smyrna,” opening the events of the “Festival of Siviri” in Kassandra, with the artists-singers M. Tsertos, Agathonas, Glykeria, Vitali, and L. Chalkia, at the “Tribute 1922 – 2002” held at the Theatre of Thessaloniki under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, and as part of the events for the Cultural Olympiad with Agathonas, Mari, Vitali, Gaitano and at the concert “If I Were a Child Again” given by Petros Gaitanos at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.
In 2003, it participated in the grand charity concert “The Saint of Smyrna” with Smyrna songs, organized by the Cultural Olympiad with Pantelis Thalassinos, Mari, Agathonas, M. Tsertos, and the Estudiantina of New Ionia, Magnesia, attended by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, at the Palais des Sports in Thessaloniki.
In the summer of 2007, it participated in the events of the Cultural Organization of the Chalkidiki Regional Authority “Musical Evenings under the Starry Sky” with the Estudiantina of New Ionia and renowned artists.
In 2007 and 2008, with the cooperation of the then Mayor of Arnaia Lazaros Lazarou, the then Regional Governor (and former Mayor of Arnaia) Asterios Zografos, and the later Mayor of Aristotelis Stelios Valianos, as President of the Cultural Society of Arnaia, the Arnaia Cultural Center was created, a “gem” that has since been the primary venue for performances and the “home” of the Arnaia Choir!
In May 2009, it participated successfully in a special broadcast on public television entitled “The Place and Its Song,” a production by ET3 with great viewership, which was broadcast worldwide via satellite.
In 2011 and 2012, it participated in the summer academy and the Aristoteleia events organized by the Municipality of Aristotelis, with invited guests such as Manolis Mitsias, Maria Farantouri, and others.
In 2013, as mayor of Arnaia, Christos Pahtas took care to release the unique cassette box with the 8 CDs “The Musical Heritage of Arnaia – Songs and Melodies of Our Land” from the municipality.
And of course, throughout these 40 years, the Arnaia Choir has had many important performances in Greece and abroad.
Info
Tel. +30 23720 22922, 23033, 22133
E-mail: xserdari@otenet.gr