{"id":3071,"date":"2016-12-30T19:44:59","date_gmt":"2016-12-30T17:44:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.humanstories.gr\/en\/sto-apiro-galazio-mias-ellinidas-soprano\/"},"modified":"2017-01-24T14:39:10","modified_gmt":"2017-01-24T12:39:10","slug":"sto-apiro-galazio-mias-ellinidas-soprano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humanstories.gr\/en\/sto-apiro-galazio-mias-ellinidas-soprano\/","title":{"rendered":"In the \u201cEndless Azure\u201d of a Greek Soprano"},"content":{"rendered":"

Greece has been a proud country for many and various reasons throughout the ages. Greece produces important people, scientists and artists. Greek-Cypriot Katerina Mina<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, whose father was born in Xanthi and mother in Larnaka, is a strong example of \u201cthe good results\u201d that Greek passion, magnanimity, perseverance and creativity can produce. Katerina Mina is a soprano whose remarkable renditions and appearances have made both Greece and Cyprus well known all over the world. (See her extensive curriculum vitae<\/strong><\/span><\/a>).<\/p>\n

She explains on Humanstories.gr: \u2018\u2019 With the title \u2018\u2019the Endless Azure\u2019\u2019 my immediate plans are to publish my collection of poems. In fact, such a title represents my life completely. This is because there is no end in my life\u2026 My career will not finish soon and together with the deep blue color of our seas something exceptional in my voice is brought out\u2026\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

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In a recent appearance by Katerina in Moscow. Production by IPCES.\u00a0Picture: Peter Kolchin<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

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She Has Loved and Devoted Her Time to Music Since She Was a Child<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I\u00a0\u00a0 introduce to you a Greek woman who stands for Greek ideals all over the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is strange for a child of four. It is as if I was born with this talent\u2026 At the age of four I had asked my mom if I could start ballet classes and piano classes two years later. When my teachers asked me what I wanted to become, I was very clear at the age of seven: \u2018Musician\u2026I am going to work in the field of classical music.\u2019 I used to say that and finally all roads led to my greatest love in life. I never thought of becoming anything else. My only complaint is that my talents have not been recognized enough in Greece. My father comes from Xanthi. His parents came from the frontier city in 1922 during the destruction of Asia Minor. Sine 1968 he has been living in Cyprus where I was born and raised. I left for London twenty-two years ago. Perhaps this is why I have not been recognized in Greece to the extent that I deserve. For example, I have sung at theaters such as Meyaro Mousikis in Athens and Salonika, Theoharaki Institute, the Theater Lofos Kilkis but I have never sung at the Opera House in Athens,\u201d says Katerina Mina<\/strong><\/span><\/a> complainingly.<\/p>\n

On Monday, July 27 she departs for Mexico in order to give two major performances with the symphonic orchestra. Afterwards, she is giving performances in Los Angeles, New York, and Oklahoma for one month. Last month she was at the Museum of Art in Oklahoma, and she did well because she received great reviews. While there she met her manager, Jack Price, who helped open doors for her in the United States. What, however, is her dream? She explains: \u201cI want to share my voice with as many people as possible. If it is possible, I would like to share my voice with all the people in the world. I would also like to sing at theaters, such as the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, the Royal Opera House in London and the Opera House in Vienna, and the La Skala in Milan.\u201d<\/p>\n

With her voice and rendition, which consist of a combination of classical music, jazz and artistic Greek music, her appearances on YouTube can relax you and take you to other eras.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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At Meyaro Mousikis in Athens with pianist Elena Mouzala.\u00a0Picture: Harris Akriviadis…<\/p>\n

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Life Hidden with Unpleasant Surprises, but Katerina Mina Persevered to Make Her Dream Come True<\/div>\n

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Katerina, did you begin your career overseas? \u201c \u201cWas everything easy for you?\u201d we asked and the answers were found in unexpected areas, since she herself never wanted to use them\u2026\u201dMy God, everything was very difficult for me. After I had finished the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where I had studied for five years, I decided to take part in the world singing competition in Spain. I did not take part to win prizes or money; I just wanted the experience. In the end, I won first prize, which was awarded to by Hose Carreras since the competition was under his auspices.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo sooner had I enjoyed my prize and thought about where to spend the money than I learned I had cancer. Imagine, if you will. In 1999 I had a ticket to Andorra for the Monserra Kampayie competition when I learned about my cancer. Then I bought a ticket to Cyprus where I started chemotherapy. An entire year was lost, and when I returned to London in 2000, I was a mess psychologically. It took me about four years to get back on my feet and start working well again. Moreover, from 2005 to 2006 many people were sarcastic while looking at the five-year gap in my curriculum vitae, instead of politely asking the reason for the gap. It took time for me to build my confidence and make progress with my voice. People in my profession do not do favors because they are not \u201cgenerous.\u201d They try to find a reason to reject you. Nobody, however, has gotten in my way. When there is rejection, I become more determined. It is as if there is a monster inside me that awakens my instincts that lead to the next job.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Carlos Castaneda, Alexandros Hahalis and Katerina Mina at the Starmus Festival 2014Picture: Mark Rigby<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

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Working with Rick Walkman and the \u201cBravo\u201d from Steven Hawking<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Katerina Mina has sung in front of important people, such as scientist Steven Hawking and Rick Walkman, famous rock star of the \u201cYes\u201d era. She has sung in theaters packed with hundreds of people who have loved her unique voice. At the end of our conversation she refers to a \u201crevelation\u201d of the modern era which opens professional doors in a way different from the traditional way.<\/p>\n

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With rock legend, Rick Walkman, and the Orion Symphonic Orchestra at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.\u00a0Picture: Studio Minas<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cWhatever I have done to date, I have done on my own. Only recently I have had help from my manager who agreed to Oklahoma. Both of us expand my professional horizons. Right now I am busy at various levels. Singers who need help approach me. I am on social media two or three hours daily. This is highly important, since most of my jobs come from this, strange as it may seem. Great conductors see my artistic works on my Internet and invite me to work with them. What is more, many listen to me sing at theaters and events and we work together soon afterwards. This is what happened to Rick Walkman, rock star of the \u201cYes\u201d era. He was backstage at the Theater Tenerifis during the closing ceremony Starmus or the International Festival of Astronomy, where speeches by Steven Hawking and Alex Leonof were given. Rick Walkman heard me singing the music of Alexandros Hahali and surprisingly we were both on stage at Queen Elizabeth Hall after a few months. Yes, I sang with the rock legend and received great newspaper reviews from experts.. I sang \u201cHelp\u2019\u2019 from the Beatles and \u2018\u2019The Morning Has Broken\u201d by Cat Stevens in my opera voice.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

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\u03a6\u03c9\u03c4\u03bf\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03af\u03b1: Studio Minas.<\/p><\/div>\n

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  • Basic photo:\u00a0Peter Kolchin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    Greece has been a proud country for many and various reasons throughout the ages. Greece produces important people, scientists and artists. Greek-Cypriot Katerina Mina, whose father was born in Xanthi and mother in Larnaka, is a strong example of \u201cthe good results\u201d that Greek passion, magnanimity, perseverance and creativity can produce. Katerina Mina is a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3051,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[51,53],"tags":[167,168],"class_list":["post-3071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diaspora","category-people","tag-katerina-mina-en","tag-soprano-en"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t