History

In the early 1960s, an ambitious project took shape in the village of Sinarades, initiated by Nikolaos Pigis, the community president, and Nikolaos Vasilakis, a community employee. Their shared vision to establish a philharmonic orchestra received overwhelming support from the residents, both financially and morally. The first music lessons began in January 1961 under the direction of conductor Vassilis Kritikos, coinciding with the acquisition of the orchestra's inaugural instruments.

The Parish of Agios Nikolaos of Sinarades generously provided a traditional house near the church, offering the Philharmonic its first home. This served as the orchestra's base until 2004, when it moved to a privately owned building donated by the Agricultural Cooperative of the Sinarades community.

While the Philharmonic began operating in 1961, it wasn’t until 1962 that the first official board was elected, with Konstantinos Sayas taking on the role of president. Up until this point, the organization had been managed by a provisional board. That same year, the Philharmonic made its debut public performance on Myrrh Bearer Sunday, under Kritikos’s leadership, featuring a talented ensemble of 24 musicians.

In 1969, Eleni Mastora succeeded Vassilis Kritikos as conductor, leading the Philharmonic until 1982. During her tenure, the orchestra's public performances expanded, with numerous summer concerts in Sinarades and nearby areas. Starting in 1971, the Philharmonic became a regular participant in Corfu town events, particularly during the processions of St. Spyridon on Palm Sunday, August 11th, and the first Sunday of November.

Following Mastora’s departure, Achilleas Sayas and Anastasios Grammenos, both original members of the Philharmonic, took over leadership. Grammenos served as conductor until 1989, while Sayas continued until 1999. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Philharmonic saw remarkable growth, expanding to 90 musicians and upgrading its instruments and uniforms, with major acquisitions in 1982 and 1993.

In 1987, under the presidency of Spyros Sayas, efforts began to secure a permanent home for the Philharmonic. The Agricultural Cooperative of Sinarades donated the building where the orchestra is currently housed, and the Parish of Agios Nikolaos contributed land for sale to fund the project. Despite challenges, with the support of the Municipality of Parelia, the Philharmonic's new home was inaugurated in 2004 under the presidency of Konstantinos Alamanos.

In the summer of 2000, Dimitris Papikinos took over as conductor, marking a period of renewed focus on music education. In 2001, the Board of Directors began recruiting specialized instructors for different instrument families, and a Student Band was established, involving 60 children under the age of 17. This initiative allowed young musicians to develop their skills through systematic training.

Today, the Philharmonic boasts 120 active members. In addition to participating in parades and processions, the orchestra holds 5 to 6 concerts annually, often collaborating with renowned Greek artists. One of its notable achievements came in June 2010, when it earned a Silver Medal at the 19th International Philharmonic Festival in K.vijik, Poland, competing against 19 orchestras from 11 European countries.

Since 2017, Alexandros Koskinas has served as conductor, while Stefanos Vlassis is the current president of the Sinarades Philharmonic.