Giannis Koutis

He was born in 1985 in Nicosia, Cyprus. Moving to Athens, Greece he studied intensively for four years the art of Oud next to the virtuoso soloist and composer Haig Yazdjian.
He got his diploma in Byzantine Ecclesiastical Music passed with distinction and winning the first prize at The National Conservatory of Athens.
He studied Epirus Polyphonic Singing at the “Folk Instruments Museum of Athens Fivos Anogianakis”.
He got his degree in Classical Guitar at Pythagorio Conservatory in Athens passed with distinction as well as the Degree of ABRSM Grade 8 (UK), presented by the significant soloist and composer Costas Grigoreas.
In 2016 he completed his Master studies (Master on Music/Oud performance) at the Codarts Conservatory of Rotterdam having as main subject teacher the highly acclaimed Ney Master Kudsi Erguner (UNESCO Artist for Peace).
He has participated in several European music events, seminars and music festivals world-wide (Hong Kong, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Las Palmas, Venice, UK, Netherlands, Germany, Israel, Cyprus ect.). He has performed not only as a soloist but also in collaboration with several ensembles presenting among others his personal compositions. He has collaborated with world re-known musicians such as Kudsi Erguner, Ross Daly, Omar Farouk Tekbilek, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra etc.
He is currently based in Cyprus working as a professional musician and teacher while he continues giving workshops and concerts around the world while parallel researching on the field of Modal Music of the Eastern Mediterranean.