The Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble on Tour in Switzerland

For the second consecutive year, the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble (RGE) will carry out an international music project under the auspices and with the financial support of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, following the positive evaluation of its proposal titled “Musical Bridges with Greek Communities in Switzerland” within the framework of the “Creative Greece” program.

Specifically, the RGE, responding to invitations from the Hellenic Community of Zurich and the Association of Greeks of Lausanne “Estia”, will be in Switzerland from September 4–7, 2025, to present concerts in both cities, as well as an interactive workshop on Greek song.

Review of the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble in Costa Rica

RGE, from the tour in Costa Rica

All musical and educational activities of the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble (RGE) in Costa Rica were successfully completed between November 23 and December 1, 2024, under the auspices and with the financial support of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.

This was the ensemble’s most extensive journey to date — one that could rightly be described as a “journey of a lifetime,” given the geographical distance of Costa Rica from Greece and the unique opportunity offered to its members to gain invaluable experiences. These included both artistic and educational activities (concerts, collaborations, seminars, and the promotion of Greek music abroad), as well as encounters with the natural environment, lifestyle, and culture of the people of Central America.

The Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble is travelling to Costa Rica with the support of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture

In mid-November 2024, the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble (RGE) is preparing to take the most significant step in its 12 years of operation as a formally recognized non-profit association, embarking on a journey to Costa Rica under the auspices and with the financial suport of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, following the positive evaluation of its application to the “Creative Greece” program.

Specifically, the RGE, having received letters of collaboration from the University of Costa Rica and the Spanish-Costa Rican Calasanz College — which include, among other activities, concerts in San José and a joint performance with the university’s guitar orchestra — submitted in February 2024 its official application to the Ministry, accompanied by all required documentation. The application was approved on July 31, 2024, with financial support and patronage granted by the Ministry.

Seminar on “Autism – Asperger Syndrome” – RGE Hall, 30/10/2022

On Sunday afternoon, 30/10/2022, the scheduled seminar on “Autism – Asperger Syndrome” was held at the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble Hall, following prior notice to the members of the association.

The speaker was Marilena Roukou, Special Education teacher, who delivered an excellent presentation, offering participants the opportunity to explore important aspects of the subject and providing clear answers to the questions raised.

The seminar was organized in the context of the RGE’s effort to include individuals (musicians) with special abilities and needs.

Review of the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble’s participation in the “Musiversity” Erasmus project in Poland (April 2019)

Beautiful experiences, new friendships, striking landscapes, intercultural interaction, and musical collaboration are just some of the words that could describe the participation of the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble (RGE) in the Erasmus+ program “Musiversity”, which took place in Zatonie, Poland, from April 22 to 30, 2019.

From a workshop in the woods

The members of the RGE had the opportunity to participate free of charge in this European Union-funded Erasmus+ program, which covered travel, accommodation, and meals. The journey included a stopover and overnight stay in Berlin, Germany.

More information regarding the objectives and framework of the program is available at the link “RGE in Poland with the Erasmus program”. Below is a selection of photographic material and videos documenting participation in workshops and other activities.

The Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble in Poland for the Musiversity Erasmus project, for 8 days during Easter 2019

The Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble (RGE) will spend eight days in Poland during the Easter holidays of 2019, participating in a European Union-funded Erasmus+ project.

Specifically, our association, a member since 2014 of the community of organizations eligible to participate in European programs, responded to an invitation from the Polish organization Chrześcijańska Służba Charytatywna and submitted all relevant documentation and proposals in 2018 for participation in the “Musiversity” project, which was approved in January 2019.

The “Musiversity” project targets individuals aged 15–20 and includes four organizations with musical expertise or interest from Poland, Jordan, Tunisia, and Greece, each sending seven participants. Representing Greece, the RGE will take part in the program. All participants will be hosted at the Polubie Recreation and Leisure Center in Zatonie, Western Poland.

The Two-Day Event by Guitar Soloist Kostas Tosidis in Ioannina (Recital at “D. Chatzis” Hall – Seminar in Rodotopi)

During the weekend of February 10–11, 2018, we had the pleasure of welcoming the distinguished guitar soloist of international career Kostas Tosidis. He offered a remarkable recital at the Cultural Venue “Dimitris Chatzis” and, at the same time, held a valuable guitar seminar at the RGE Hall in Rodotopi.

The events were co-organized by the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble, the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Ioannina, and the Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Greek History. On behalf of the RGE, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Kostas Tosidis for the wonderful guitar moments he shared with us.

We would also like to express our gratitude to the administration of the Cultural Center of Ioannina for their cooperation, as well as to Konstantinos Vrellis, director of the Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Greek History, for his generous sponsorship and decisive contribution to the success of the two-day event.

Photos: Christos Parginos