Lyra Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society Newsletter |
Summer 2001 |
Previous issues of Lyra |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
2001
Festival of Greek Music and Dance An Overwhelming Success!! |
![]() The visiting virtuoso folk musicians from Greece took the capacity audience that was present at the Rubloff Auditorium at the Chicago Historical Society on a musical journey that they will remember for a long time. ![]()
Loved the dancing... Sitting to music this wonderful is painful. It should be in a hall where dancing is possible... We love you!! Do not stop !! The dancers were awesome and the musicians to die for... Thank you! Congratulations on a superb program! We need more of these cultural events. The show was great. I loved the dancing and music. Words fail me. We need more of these functions in Chicago. Dances were excellent, different. Outstanding program! It was nice to hear the forgotten Greek music. Congratulations on a great job! Please continue teaching us our great traditions. This was fantastic! Keep up the good job. Please send information about next year's concert. Sponsor List: World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE of America) Olympia Development (William and George Touloumis) Jim Stoynoff Johnny's Kitchen and Tap (Glenview, IL) Metsovo Cultural Organization of Chicago Maria I. Davis Sara Lee Coffee and Tea Roula Architects and Associates |
![]() |
Youth Group Updates |
![]() ![]() ![]() With the success of the summer and the end of the past instruction year behind us, the Orpheus Youth Group and the instructors are looking forward to starting up again in September! If you know of any youth ages 10-14 that would like to know another dimension of Hellenic culture, call Vasiliki Grosso at 773-286-5132 or Yannis Economou at 847-657-0958 for more information or log onto the web site at www.ohfs.org. See you in the fall! |
![]() |
Exotic Adventures by Harry Georgakopoulos |
Every so often, in the midst of hectic work schedules, grueling
practice sessions and extravagant beauty pageants, Orpheus members find the time to embark
on weekend field trips to far-away and exotic places. This past May and June, the Orpheus Dance Troupe was invited to perform at local church festivals in St. Louis, Missouri and Saginaw, Michigan. Out of town performances tend to be quite demanding on all of the participants. These events usually involve long hours of practice, lengthy travel times, tiring performances and having to put up with Yanni and Kostas' senses of humor. In the end though, the overall experience is extremely rewarding! These trips not only provide us with the unique opportunity to present and perpetuate the rich history and traditions of the folk music, songs and dances of Greece, they also allow for the formation of strong friendships among the members of the group and between Orpheus and the respective communities. It has been five years since the Orpheus Dance Troupe found itself traveling south on I-55 to St. Louis. Back then, the occasion was "PANEGYRI 1996". This time around, the Troupe was invited to participate in the Greek Festival organized by the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church over the Memorial Day weekend. The crowds poured in during all four days of the festival. The people were extremely enthusiastic about the dance performances and very pleased by the overall organization of the event. The food was excellent and the hospitality was heartwarming. Volunteers from the local parish worked assiduously throughout the weekend to ensure a successful festival. A total of five performances were scheduled during our stay in St. Louis. These were comprised of two mainland and three island performances. The senior and youth dance groups of the local parish also put on an excellent show. ![]() Orpheus would like to thank Dean Bellos, director of the local dance group in St. Louis, for his invitation and care during our visit. Dean is an old acquaintance that shares a similar passion for Greek folk music and dance. He recently visited Chicago with members of his group and attended the April 28th concert at the Chicago Historical Society. ![]() This marked the fourth year in a row that the Orpheus dance troupe has been invited to perform at the Greek Festival of the St. Demetrios Church. As in St. Louis, the program in Saginaw included two mainland and three island performances. The turnout for the festival during all three days was astounding! Literally thousands of people crowded the church premises with the intent of indulging themselves in some of the exquisite Greek cuisine, the live music and the splendid dance performances by Orpheus and the other local dance groups . ![]() We would like to extend our gratitude to Soula and Alexia Economou, co-chairpersons of the Saginaw festival, as well as the rest of the Michigan folks who made our stay a memorable one. |
![]() |
Welcome to new Orpheus Youth members: Louie
Costa, Christos Gikas, Theresa Karras, John Sakelaris, Markos Sarantopoulos,
Theofanis Sarantopoulos, Angela Trikkas, Katerina Trikkas. Welcome to new Orpheus Adult member: John Simeonides. |
Congratulations to Gregory and Angie Poulos for the birth of their daughter Katerina Panayiota Poulos born on March 18, 2001. |
Congratulations to Albert and Marianna Gudmundsson for the birth of their son Christian Gudmuundsson born on July 10th, 2001. |
Six members of the Orpheus youth and adult group are traveling to Greece to star in an original ancient Greek play written by St. George Greek School principal, Mrs. Julia Patrianakos featuring costumes and props by Mrs. Dina Sianis.The presentation was selected among many entries from across the country to represent the United States at the World Theater competition among Greek school from all over the globe! The competition will take place the first week of July in Rethymno, Crete.The students are: Angeliki Gikas, Panagiota Gikas, Eleni Gouvas, Elisaios Sianis, Kathy Skondos and Amanda Stamelos. Good luck to you all! |
![]() Na ta ekatostisete! |
Nameday wishes to Elias Papadakis on
July 20; Marianna Kaltsa, Marianna Damianides, Maria Daskalakis, Patty Pappas,
Patty Droulias, Pat Tomaras, Peter Panagakis, Peter Papageorgiou, Peter Vass, Panagiota
Gikas on August 15th; Alexis Arvanitis, Alexandra Baboulas,
Alexandra Usher, Alex Pavlos and Alexander Kapotas on August 30th; Stavros
Alexopoulos on September 14th; Sophia Tsipianitis and Sophia
Sianis on September 17th. Chronia Polla! |
![]() |
Congratulations to Peter Panagakis for graduating from the University of Illinois, Urbana with a degree in Economics and Business and Angeliki Siargos for graduating from DePaul University with a degree in Math. |
![]() |
Last revised:
12/31/2012 10:41 AM