MUSICOLOGY

Michalis Lapidakis

A native of Thessaloniki, Greece, Michalis Lapidakis, DM, began his musical studies in the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, where he received diplomas in piano and theory (harmony, counterpoint, and fugue). He attended two semesters at the Musikhochschule of West Berlin and the musicology department at the Technisches Universität of West Berlin. In 1988 he earned a Master’s degree in Composition at Boston University and in 1993 a Doctoral degree in Composition at Northwestern University. He has studied with, among others, Alan Stout, Th. Antoniou, B. Rands, O. Messiaen, W. Karlins, P. Boulez, T. Takemitsu, and I. Xenakis.

Lapidakis now resides in Athens, Greece, where he is currently the Musical Director of the State Conservatory of Petroupolis, and teaches theory and composition at various musical institutions. Since 1996 he is Professor of Composition and 20^th century music at the Ionion University. He has written many works for various kinds of ensembles.

His compositional output includes works for orchestra: TRANSFORMATIONS: Vendredi ou les Limbes du Pacifique – commission of The Athens Concert Hall, Un Soleil Noir, for soprano and chamber orchestra – commission of ALΕA III, Days: Studies on G. S. – commission of The City of Iraklion; for various instrumental ensembles: “NOSTOU DE MNISAI…”, for 10 instruments – commission of the Academy of Athens, In a State of Flux for viola, clarinet and piano – commission of the Greek National Radio, Entweder Oder, for violin and piano – commission of the Austrian National Radio, Vera Quartet (…situations…), for string quartet; for solo instruments: Taksims, for mandolin, In Memoriam, for violin, Five Preludes, for piano, Akira’s Dream, for clarinet; for theater, audio-visual and dance productions. His works have been performed in Chicago, Boston, Graz, Vienna, Czechoslovakia, Thessaloniki, and Athens.

In 1991 he was the recipient of the W. T. Farracy Award for Creative Music and in 1995 he was awarded the 2. Prize of the “I. Papaioannou”. He is a member of the Greek Composers’ Union and BMI.