the Gift of Gods Festival in CANADA 2025
Ancient Lyre
an ancient artifact that is reintroducing the ancient Greek music heritage to the modern world
BONUS A unique opportunity for hands-on experience with the lyre andmother ancient musical instruments!
Events
March 22
Saturday
James Bay United Church
Ancient Greek Lyre Workshop // 2-4 pm
Ancient Greek Lyre Concert // 7-9 pm
511 Michigan Street, Victoria
For more info:
anne@anneschaefer.com
or 778.677.4339
March 23
Sunday
Lila Music Centre
Ancient Greek Lyre Workshop // 2-4 pm
Ancient Greek Lyre Concert // 7-9 pm
3228A Gibbins Road, Duncan
For more info:
anne@anneschaefer.com
or 778.677.4339
March 24
Monday
University of Victoria
An interactive exhibition plus live performance by virtuoso lyre players
5-6 pm
Bob Wright Centre, Room A104,
University of Victoria
For more info:
Click here for instructions
March 26
Wednesday
Nanaimo
Greek Lyre Workshop & hands-on experience with the lyre
3-4 pm
1214 College Drive, Nanaimo
For more info:
narissayoung1@gmail.com
March 27
Thursday
Parksville
Ancient Greek Music Concert
& Sound Journey
7-9 pm (doors open 6:30)
Knox United Church 345 Pym Street, Parksville
For more info:
narissayoung1@gmail.com
March 29
Saturday
Vancouver Public Library
Ancient Greek Music Concert
(Staircase Sounds)
12-1 pm
Vancouver Public Library, Central Library, Vancouver
For more info:
click here to visit VPL’s page
March 31
Monday
University of British Columbia
The Ancient Lyre:
Music, Myth, Magic, and Philosophy
3-5 pm
Walter C. Koerner Library – Level 3 Fireplace Area, 1958 Main Mall, Vancouver
March 31
Monday
Pharos: The Hellenic-Canadian Cultural Society
Ancient Greek Music Concert
& Hands-on Time with the Instruments
7:30 pm
4500 Arbutus Street, Upper Hall, Vancouver
Meet the Musicians
Thanasis Kleopas is a world-renowned musician who has performed live worldwide, including China, France, Japan, Italy, India, Germany, Switzerland, and more. He is a beloved lyre player, performing on an ancient Greek lyre of Apollo, drawing inspiration from Greek folk music to compose deeply emotion-provoking melodies. His compositions are a testament to his deep love for his Greek origins and ancient world music.
Theodore Koumartzis is a renowned lyre player and the visionary behind the pioneering SEIKILO Museum of Ancient Music in Thessaloniki. Being an integral part of the LUTHIEROS family of luthiers, he had the chance to participate with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Hellenic University of Greece to research and develop several ancient musical instruments. Theodore’s multifaceted musical journey also encompasses the founding of two bands, the folk fusion band “Reggetiko Project” and the ancient world music ensemble “Pausis,” releasing several music albums over the past decade and performing live in venues around the globe, such as in Sicily, Istanbul, Nicosia, Bonn, Vancouver, etc.
Marios Podaras is an experienced musician focusing on ancient and contemporary string instruments, such as the pandura and the violin. His extensive education in classical music began at the age of 4 and continues to this day, including seminars at the renowned Labyrinth Music Workshop, an institution overseen by Ross Daly. As part of his artistic journey, Marios Podaras engaged in numerous musical endeavors, including bands in Greece and abroad. His penchant for exploring diverse musical realms allowed him to highlight his talents across different genres, ranging from rebetiko, rock, blues, and jazz to psychedelic music.
Meet SEIKILO
& LUTHIEROS
SEIKILO Museum of Ancient Music is a unique interactive museum that attracts visitors worldwide, with many visiting Greece mainly for this experience. It hosts replicas of ancient Greek musical instruments that the visitors can interact with while learning the history and mythology behind each one, their relationship with Greek philosophers and Gods, listen to a professional musician play with each one of them, and have a hands-on time, in the end, learning simple melodies.
This unique cultural experience has received the TripAdvisor Award of Excellence every year since 2017 (being featured in the Top 10 Museums in Thessaloniki by TripAdvisor since then) and numerous enthusiastic verified reviews by visitors.
The museum team collaborates closely with the LUTHIEROS family of luthiers to recreate working replicas of several ancient musical instruments from Greece, Rome, and the rest of the world. Since 2015, LUTHIEROS has partnered with several universities (such as the International Hellenic University and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) to recreate working replicas of ancient musical instruments. As a result, today, it has an in-house, highly experienced luthiers’ team with a global reputation and a focus on the ancient musical heritage.
Both LUTHIEROS and the SEIKILO Museum are regularly invited to showcase their work around the globe and in various cultural places, such as museums (e.g., Musical Instruments Museum, Phoenix, United States), universities (e.g., The University of British Columbia, Canada), and archaeological sites (e.g., Villa Kerylos, French Ministry of Culture).
Listen to
Ancient World Music
— Songlines magazine (February 2025)
Press kit
Click here to download the press kit.
