IDIOMELO

George and Nikos MATTHEWThey were born in Kastoria in the years 1975 and 1970 respectively. Due to their family origins from Epirus and Eastern Thrace, they became acquainted with the long-established habits and customs of these regions. At an early age, they get oriented towards studying the Byzantine Music, which later leads them to the Greek folk music (what is called the demotic music). At the same time, they take up studies on the classical guitar and the theory of European Music. Under the guidance of significant teachers (I. Chasanidis, Dim. Sourlatzis, Lykourgos Aggelopoulos etc.), they uncover the secrets of the Byzantine Music, finally focusing on traditional instruments, to which they are totally committed at the end. Their apprenticeship to influential teachers of Constantinople was decisive for their establishment as soloists and performers of instruments of the Eastern world; thus Giorgos plays the nay, flutes, clarinet, tamboura, saz, lute and Nikos the oud, Constantinople and Thracian lyre, tamboura and the violin. Having studied at the "Macedonian Conservatory" in Thessaloniki and the "Nikos Skalkotas Conservatory" in Athens, they both hold a full marks degree in Byzantine Music, classical guitar and the theory of music as well. Since 1991 both brothers have been teaching the theory and practice of Western and Byzantine music and the technique of traditional instruments in various Conservatories and Music Schools around Greece, while chanting, at the same time, in various Orthodox churches of Macedonia. Also, Nikos is a music teacher at the Siatista High School of Music and Giorgos at the Serres High School of Music. In 1992 they formed IDIOMELO, a traditional music band that took part in major festivals and cultural events both in Greece and abroad: at MYLOS, AEGLI and HYDROGIOS in Thessaloniki, at "8 DYTIKA" and METRO in Athens, in Skiathos, Xanthi, Olympus and Patras festivals and in various foreign folk festivals in the UK, in Switzerland, in Spain, in Poland, in Finland. Nikos and Giorgos Matthew are the lead instrument players and singers of the band. IDIOMELO's concert with PETRO LOUKAS CHALKIAS at the Athens Concert Hall in May 1997 and the prize awarded to the band by the Greek NATIONAL TELEVISION at the Euromusika festival that took place in the summer of 1998 in Thessaloniki are two of the most important distinctions for the brothers. Furthermore, the concerts given for Greek emigrants along with PETRO LOUKAS CHALKIAS in the USA (Boston), in Germany (Dusseldorf and Munich) and Australia (Melbourne and Sidney) were equally exceptional. Since 1993 Nikos and Giorgos have been members of the Greek Byzantine Choir, a scheme, which has given many recitals and concerts in Greece and abroad under the conductorship of LYKOURGOS AGGELOPOULOSThe two brothers also carry out laographic research and make an attempt to inventory Greek folk songs. They have played along with notable and eminent traditional music artists and they participate in radio and television music productions. They have released two personal records (CD-albums) with traditional songs and tunes from Greece under the titles IDIOMELO and IDIOMELO B, two works that made a profound impression on both the press and the public. In 2003 they release their third CD album titled"EGNATIA ODOS" wich is a music travel from Epirus to Constantinople, a "route of Traditionalism" as they say. During the 2003-2005 summers they participate in concerts and festivals collaborating with the artists Ross Daly, Dilek Kots and the Balkan Brass Band of Goumenissa.They have traveled in many countries of Europe and they have played in Connecticut and New York city in USA. Now they are preparing their fourth CD-album, a music project with Greek,Bulgarian ank Turkish musicians, with many tunes, improvisations and songs from the Balkans.The name of the album is "Balkan Express". From 1999 until today Nikos and George Matthew manage two Private Music Colleges in Ptolemaida and Lagadas(GREECE),with many music directions and subjects,from classical and byzantine music to modern styles.