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Announcement

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• The VONA CNPC (Civil Non-Profit Company) presents the “12th International Summer Piano Academy & Festival 'Anastasios Leimonis'– Poros 2023”  which will take place on the Greek island of Poros from the 20th till the 30th  of August 2023.

• The International event is open to candidates of all nationalities and age. During the workshops of the Academy, the Festival will be running simultaneously, in order to give young talented students of the Academy  an opportunity to display their charisma and share their Art with the public. Both the Academy and the Festival, have the purpose to broaden the horizons of the young pianists, enriching their knowledge and experience, taking lessons from different world famous Professors and sharing the beauty of music with the others on this magnificent  island of the Mediterranean.

• There is also this year a special section for participants forming a Piano Duo (4 hands –2 pianos).

• The Professors who will teach at the Academy coming from different nations are also famous Soloists and well recognized Professors. Having their own piano schools, experiences and style, they are invited to teach the students of the Academy and share and exchange with them ideas and opinions.

• The participants who need a Visa they have to refer to Mrs. Zoe Groumouti, (Organiser Assistant of our Academy) at the e-mail address: pianomagicacademy@gmail.com
  
  General Schedule

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• The Opening Ceremony will take place on Sunday the 20th  of August, at 19.00΄, at  the Syggros' Open Amphitheater.

• The same evening will conclude with special Welcome Piano Recitals.

• All the Professors, participants, relatives and friends are invited to honor with their presence the Opening Evening of the '12th International Summer Piano Academy & Festival 'Anastasios Leimonis' - Poros 2023.

• The same day, Sunday the 20th of August , between 12.00' and 19.00',  you can pick up your participant file with all the details about your lessons and the programme of the Festival from Syggros' Hall No 1.

• The Lessons will start on the 21st morning and will finish the 29th evening August 2023.

• The Halls where the lessons will take place are the Halls of Syggros’ Mansion, the Public Schools of Poros and the Hatzopoulios Public Library, all in the center of the town and close to the port.

• There will be many pianos for practicing in the Public Schools. Every day, precisely at noon, in Syggros’ Mansion there will be a list for the next day’s practice hours that you can fill in with your code number.
  
  Performance opportunities
   

• The Opening Ceremony will take place on Sunday the 20th of August, at 19.00, at the Syggros’ Open Amphitheater  followed by special Welcome Piano Recitals.

• On the 20th and 21st of August there will be Piano Recitals performed by distinguished participants of the Academy, at 20.00΄, at the Syggros’ Open Amphitheatre and on the 22nd and 24th at 20.00' at the Hall ‘ Nefeli’ of the Hotel Sirene Blue Luxury Beach Resort. 

• The students interested to perform in the ‘12th International Piano Festival 'Anastasios Leimonis' – Poros 2023’ giving a solo Recital, have to send by e-mail a link (youtube or any other link easy to watch) of their own performance, a photo, their CV only in fluent english, and a programme of 15 minutes’ duration. All the above has to be sent to the Artistic Director Agathe Leimoni, in the email: agatheleimoni@hotmail.com 

• There will be a selection among the recordings in order to choose the best performers who will be informed by e-mail from the Artistic Director when they will give a solo Recital participating actively in the “12th International Piano Festival 'Anastasios Leimonis'– Poros 2023”.

• On Wednesday the 23rd of August, at 20.00', at the Syggros’ Open Amphitheater, will take place the Audition for the selection of the Soloists who would like to perform with the Sinfonietta Orchestra of Athens at the same place, on Saturday the 26th of August at 20.00'. The Jury will consist of the Professors of the Academy and the Conductor. The chosen Soloists will have the opportunity to take advice from the Conductor the following day, regarding the concert they have to perform and the relationship between the Soloist and the Orchestra. On Saturday the 26th, the day of the Concert, at 11.00' in the morning, will be the General Rehearsal of the Orchestra and the selected Soloists in the Theater of Syggros' Mansion (indoors). All the above performances  are open to the public.

• On Friday the 25th of August, there will be the Special Concert which takes place at 20.00' at the Archeological Sanctuary of Poseidon on Poros Island and it attracts a vast audience every year. Any participant that would like to participate has to apply at the email : agatheleimoni@hotmail.com and has to send by e-mail a link (youtube or any other link easy to watch) with the piece he wants to perform, which has to be around 5 min and really attractive for the audience.

• * On Saturday 26th of August, at 20.00΄ at the Syggros’ Open Amphitheatre, the “Sinfonietta” Orchestra of Athens has been invited to perform with selected students of the Academy, concerts for one, two and three pianos. The same day of the Concert, at 11.00' in the morning, will be the General Rehearsal of the Orchestra and the selected Soloists in the Theater of Syggros' Mansion (indoors).The students interested to perform with the Orchestra can apply by email sent to the Artistic Director Agathe Leimoni, at the email: agatheleimoni@hotmail.com

• They can choose one movement of a concert, for one, two or three pianos and orchestra among the concerts of:
  BACH : BWV 1052 in RE minore, BWV 1054 in Re maggiore, BWV 1056 in Fa minore, BWV 1958 in Sol minore, for 2 pianos: BWV 1060 in Do minore, BWV 1061 in Do Maggiore, BWV 1062 in Do minore and for 3 pianos: BWV 1064 in Do maggiore.
  HAYDN : Concert in Re maggiore, Concert in Fa maggiore Hob. XVIII: 3,
  MOZART: Concert KV 271 in Μι bem. Maggiore, Concert ΚV 413 in Fa maggiore, Concert KV 414 in La maggiore, Concert ΚV 449 in Mi bem. Maggiore, Concert KV 107 in Mi bem. maggiore, for 2 pianos: ΚV 365 in Mi bem. Maggiore and for 3 pianos: ΚV 242 in Fa maggiore
  BEETHOVEN : Concert n. 2 in Si bem. maggiore (Version for strings).
  CHOPIN : Concert No. 1 in Mi minore and No. 2 in Fa minore (Version for Strings).
  SAINT SAENS : Concert No. 2 in Sol minore opus 22 (Version for Strings).

• As it is mentioned above,the audition for the selection of the soloists will take place on Wednesday the 23rd of August, at the Syggros' open Amphitheater and the chosen Soloists will have the opportunity to take advice from the Conductor the following day, regarding the concert they have to perform and the relationship between the Soloist and the Orchestra.
  The participants who are interested to participate in the Audition for the Orchestra should apply by email, sending to the following address  the concert they have ready and mentioning also the movement/s they know better : agatheleimoni@hotmail.com 

• On Sunday the 27th of August, at the Syggros’ Open Amphitheatre at 20.00΄, will take place the first Gala Concert of the Academy where the public will participate by voting for the “best performer of the evening” awarding him/her the “Prize of the public”. Any participant can apply (without audition or selection) by email sent to the Artistic Director Agathe Leimoni, at the email:  agatheleimoni@hotmail.com 

• On Monday the 28th of August, at the Hatzopoulios Municipal Library, at 20.00' , will take place a very Special Concert for our young little stars! The performance is titled : 'Liliputean pianists on stage'. The audience will have the chance to enjoy the ‘enfants prodiges’ (5-14 years old) of this year’s Academy, performing as ‘miniature’ soloists. Any young participant up to 14 years old can apply (without audition or selection) by email sent to the Artistic Director Agathe Leimoni at the email:  agatheleimoni@hotmail.com mentioning the piece he wants to perform on this special event.

• On Tuesday the 29th  of August, at the Syggros’ Open Amphitheatre at 20.00΄, will take place the Closing Cerermony and a  second Gala Concert, where the public will participate by voting for the “best performer of the evening” awarding him/her the “Prize of the public”. Any participant can apply (without audition or selection) by email sent to the Artistic Director Agathe Leimoni, at the email: agatheleimoni@hotmail.com 
  
  The same evening, the Mayor of Poros will award the Diplomas of Participation to all the students of the Academy. 
  
  Registration Procedure

• You can fill in the application form that you can find in our site: www.porospianoacademy.gr

• You have to complete it and -if you want to perform- add in the comments which performance events you choose and what will be your repertoire.

• Every participant has the right to take 5 lessons from different Professors of the Academy.

          The registration fee is 390 Euros for the active participants and 140 Euros for the passive ones. To validate your application,                  you must transfer a deposit of 190 euros for the active participants and 70 for the passive ones as soon as you apply , or if you            prefer, the whole amount of the registration fee. Ten days before the opening of the Academy the whole registration fee must be            deposited to activate fully the inscription of the participant.
          Please send the scanned receipt of your transfer to the Artistic Director Agathe Leimoni, at the email:                       

           agatheleimoni@hotmail.com ​

• The account details are the following:  Piraeus Bank   Account holder: VONA Civil Non-profit Company (VONA CNPC)  
  IBAN: GR54 0172 0790 0050 7910 1330 323    Code BIC/SWIFT: PIRBGRAA

• In case you want to pay via PayPal the account is the following: assocnath@gmail.com

• The deposit is not refundable in case of cancellation.

• For the piano duos the registration fee will be 390 euros in total, for both participants together, who have the right to take 5 lessons as a duo, by Professors of the Academy specialized on piano duo music.

• There will be pianos (upright and electrical ones) for practicing, free of charge for all the active participants of the Academy.

• Lessons are open only to all active and passive participants of the Academy.

• All the concerts given by the soloists of the Academy in the “12th International Piano Festival 'Anastasios Leimonis'– Poros 2023”, are free of charge and open to the public.

• Anyone of the participants interested to have a DVD of his performance, can refer to Mr. Bruce Shayne Nelson, at his email: author222@gmail.com . The cost of the DVD is 30 euros (including postage and handling).

• The participants who have applied for the Audition on the 23rd of August in order to be selected and play with the Orchestra on the 26th, might need an accompanist for the Audition of the 23rd. If you do, please refer to Prof. Fotis Matzaridis, who is the official accompanist of our Academy, at his email address: fotismatz@yahoo.gr or his mobile phone 0030 6979709189.

• For any further information, do not hesitate to contact directly the Artistic Director Prof. Agathe Leimoni via email: agatheleimoni@hotmail.com or phone 0030 6944248245 (mobile), 0030 2103811757 (fixed phone).

• On the 28th and 29th of August, the last two days, all candidates have the right to have personal interviews with the professors of the Academy, regarding their own performances.
  
  Accommodation, Meals etc.

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• The accommodation can be organised by the organisers (if the participant asks for it) in apartments overlooking the sea or located few minutes walking distance from the sea, including 1 or 2 rooms with bathroom, kitchenette, wifi, air conditioning and TV. The charges are special offer for the participants of the Academy and their companions (parents, professors, relatives and friends).

• Cooking facilities are available in the apartments. Super markets are everywhere and walking distance from the apartments. 

• There is also a big variety of snacks that the participants prefer usually in the night, after the concerts, as a light meal, gathering all together and having great fun in the center of the town or by the beach.

• The ‘12th International Summer Piano Academy & Festival  'Anastasios Leimonis' – Poros 2023’  bears no responsibility for damage(s) to people or objects. Therefore, we highly recommend taking travel insurance before you travel. All minors have to be supervised by their families or Professors, during their stay and activities on the island of Poros.

• Each professor is responsible for the attitude of the students he brings with him.

• It is strictly forbidden for all participants of the Academy the rental and use of bicycles, motorbikes, scooters, quads, bikes, buggies etc.

• There is no supervision of the participants and their companions during swimming.
  
  How to get there and tourist Information

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• Poros island is 2 hours and 30 minutes away from Piraeus (the port of Athens) by the normal ship www.saronicferries.gr and 1 hour and 20 min by the Flying Cat or Aero Highspeed, www.bluestar.com (hellenicseaways)

• You can also contact Miss Niki at her personal email: info@marinostours.gr  who is the agent of Flying Cat or Aero Highspeed  on Poros island and she has been helping our Academy since the very beginning. She can book for you the tickets, send you a reference number and pay upon your arrival to Poros. (Just mention that you are from Poros Academy).

•  From the airport of Athens till the port of Piraeus there is a local bus, number X96, which departs all 24 hours from the arrivals’ level of the airport, every 15 – 20 minutes and takes about 1 hour to arrive to the port. Getting out at the last stop, you are in front of the port, gate E8, which is the gate from where both the Flying Cat, Aero Highspeed and the Ferry boat leave to Poros  all day.

•  It is easy to access the Island also through the mainland, from Athens to Galatas by bus or by your car (about 2 hours and 30 minutes) and then cross -by the ferry- opposite to the island of Poros (only 5 minutes). This ferry is running every half an hour from 6.30 in the morning till 22.30 in the night.

• We can help you to book a taxi from the airport of Athens straight to your hotel on Poros island. The price they offer us for the Academy is very reasonable for a taxi ride. If you need this service, you can contact  the Artistic Director Agathe Leimoni who can help you getting in touch with the taxi drivers who offer a special price for the Academy participants.                              (Email: agatheleimoni@hotmail.com)

• The island is magnificent and it has nice beaches for swimming and many sightseeing places within very short distance. Important archeological sites are just one hour away, like famous Epidavros and its ancient Theatre.

• The ''12th International Summer Piano Academy & Festival 'Anastasios Leimonis' - Poros 2023” wishes you a very pleasant stay, combining the beauty of a Greek island like Poros and the Art of Piano. Holidays of such quality with this low cost, Master classes and Concerts of this caliber are something unique that will inspire and give a motive to young talented students coming from the 5 Continents. They all become a big musical family sharing unforgettable memories and progressing in their great passion: Music !