Maria Kotsiri: music and MUSICIANS at the Poseidon Half Marathon

Maria Kotsiri is the daughter of actors Lampros Kotsiris and Frantzeska Alexandrou.

She was born and raised in Athens and began singing from a young age, performing rebetiko music in taverns. At the same time, she participated in experimental music groups, playing xylophone, guitar, and electric bass.

She has collaborated with Aris Tasoulis, Periklis Charvas, Nikolas Asimos, among others.

Before finishing school, she toured with drummer Kostas Karamitros (later her husband, with whom she has a daughter) in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain, performing with musicians from around the world at festivals, music venues, and on the street.

After returning to Greece, she studied traditional singing with Domna Samiou at the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments, Byzantine music at the Simon Karas Association, and continued her studies at the Hellenic Art Group with Tasos Fotopoulos and at the Athens Conservatoire with Katerina Papadopoulou (traditional singing), Christos Tsiamoulis, and Socratis Sinopoulos (Istanbul lute).

She has performed in music-theatrical productions such as “Mikrasia” at the "Theatre Under the Bridge", at Angelon Vima, and at Beton 7, as well as in children’s plays with the group “La Strada” in theaters and schools.

She also accompanied various storytellers with her singing and Istanbul lute in a variety of alternative venues, including Altamira, alongside actors such as Krateros Katsoulis, Gogo Brembou, Iro Mane, and others.

At the same time, she continued to participate in experimental ensembles, mainly playing xylophone.

At the Hellenic Art Group, she taught and formed a choir.

She has attended seminars in Music and Movement Education by Maria Kinigou Flampoura and has also completed studies in Silversmithing.

This past winter, she collaborated with Kostas Alexandridis and the dance group “Momogeroi” in “The Silk Road”.

During the academic year 2020–2021, she earned a degree in Applied Arts, and she is currently studying at the Athens School of Fine Arts in the Department of Theory and History of Art.

She also teaches Istanbul lute and traditional singing at the “Ichotropio” Music School.