Casa dei Mezzo Chamber Music Festival

Chronis Koutsoumpides was born in June 22, 1986 in Ptolemaida, Greece.

He started his musical studies at the age of seven and in 2007 he received the guitar diploma from the Municipal Conservatory of Ptolemaida with Honors, First Prize and a distinction of outstanding performance. He was then awarded a scholarship to study for a further seven years. In 2005 he received the Harmony degree and in 2009 he graduated from the Department of Music Science and Art of the University of Macedonia from Elena Papandreou's class. In 2015 he graduated with a Master's Degree in Guitar from the Mozarteum University of Salzburg, in the Eliot Fisk class.

A winner in competitions such as the First Prize in the international Competition of Gargnano (Italy, 2010), the First Prize in the National Competition of Veria (Greece, 2008), the First Prize in the International Competition of Volos (Greece, 2001) and also the First Prize in the International Festival of Thessaloniki and the Second Prize in the International Chamber Music Competition "Savarez-Corelli" of Salzburg (Austria, 2015) with the "Aeolian Guitar Duo". Chronis was also awarded by the Guitar Club "Friends of Dimitris Fampas" for his contribution in spreading the work of Dimitris Fampas.

Chronis has given many solo and chamber music recitals in Austria and Greece (Megaron Hall of Thessaloniki, Casa dei Mezzo festival, etc.). He has also co-operated many times as a soloist with the Symphonic Orchestra of the Department of Music Science and Art of the University of Macedonia and he has played works for premiere performance.

Since 2014 Chronis has belonged to the "Aeolian Guitar Duo" in cooperation with guitarist Vivi Gypari.

Chronis has attended classes with Oscar Ghigllia, Roland Dyens, Carlo Domeniconi, Marco Tamayo, Simone Fontanelli, Margarita Escarpa, Timo Korhonen, Isabella Siewers de Pazur, Laura Young, Vangelis Boudounis, Thanos Mitsalas, etc.

Since 2005 Chronis has been teaching guitar in conservatories and music schools in Greece.

Chronis's name has been mentioned in the media with comments such as:

"... has impressed the audience with his virtuosity ..." Newspaper Imerisia, Greece

"... artists of this calibre honour the city and make their fellow citizens proud ..." Newspaper Ptolemeos, Greece