Yannis Pantazis

Multi-Instrumentalist | Composer | Instrument Artisan
Co-founder & Co-owner of Symposion Cultural Center, Santorini, Greece

Biography

Born: 1978 in Grevena, Greece, Yannis Pantazis grew up in a musically rich family. His father and grandfather were both percussionists, which instilled in him a lifelong passion for music and cultural expression.

Education

1997: Enrolled at "Delidimos Lazaros" Conservatory in Thessaloniki, focusing on music theory and saxophone.
2002: Continued studies at "Christos Papoulakos" Conservatory in Larissa.

Professional Journey

2001: Began his career with the band Captain Sung and his Electric Tangerine.
2005: Joined Namaste, touring Greece and the Balkans and deepening his love for folk music.
2006: Discovered the tsabouna (Greek bagpipe) while studying under a shepherd in Naxos, later moving to Santorini to revive the instrument.
2007: Explored local festivals in Grecia Salentina, Italy, enhancing his musical expression.
2011: Elected to the committee of the Pan-Cycladic Meeting of Folk Wind-Instruments, promoting traditional music.
2012: Co-founded La Ponta, a workshop for crafting tsabounas in a Venetian castle in Akrotiri.
2013:
- La Ponta was nominated for a National Geographic World Cultural Heritage Award.
- Released his debut album, Aylos Aulos, focusing on cultural identity.
2016: Recognized as an Olympic Mentor in Rome, sharing Greek music's stories.
2018: Co-founded Symposion Cultural Center in Megalochori, Santorini, promoting music, art, and Greek mythology.

Recent Endeavors (2020 - Present)

Innovative Research: Developed interactive music presentations exploring Greek mythology.
Compositions for Film:
- Composed music for Paramount Pictures’ Gladiator II, directed by Ridley Scott.
- Collaborated with Universal Pictures on The Odyssey, designing specialized instruments.

Artisan Craftsmanship

Developed custom instruments for notable artists, including Vangelis Papathanasiou and Dead Can Dance.

Key Projects and Achievements

Participated in the EU cultural program "Folk Music in MusEUms" across several countries, producing two albums.
Composed for the National Drama Theater in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, as part of the European Capital of Culture project.

Research and Speaking Engagements

Presented research at the Hippocratic Oath Ceremony in 2024 on the intersection of music and medical arts.
Delivered a lecture on "Music and Mythology in the Medicinal Arts" at the University of Cambridge in 2025.
Keynote speaker at the UK Alchemy Conference 2025 at Oxford University, discussing music, mythology, and medicinal arts.

Performance Experience

Yannis has performed and conducted workshops in Greece, the UK, France, Turkey, and the USA, including venues like Buddy Guy’s Legends and the Delta Blues Museum

Media Coverage

Yannis Pantazis's work has been featured in various prestigious media outlets, highlighting his impact on the cultural and musical landscape:

BBC 2 (Scotland)
OTE HISTORY (Greece)
RAI3 (Italy)
TV5 (France)
ET3 (Greece)
National Geographic Magazine (UK)
Sunday Times (UK)
NDR (Germany)
VIV2 (Vietnam)
SONGLINES Magazine (UK)
Chanter Magazine (UK)
New Greek TV (USA)
https://www.symposionsantorini.com/press

Selected Projects