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Biography

Marilena Chrysochoidi, born in Athens, Greece, hails from a family with roots in Asia Minor, surrounded by a rich tapestry of musical influences. Her journey in music began at the age of 7 when she started playing the piano. A musical high school expanded her repertoire to include the tambouras and ignited her passion for the traditional Greek instrument, the santur. Concurrently, Marilena pursued voice lessons, later specializing in classical singing under the tutelage of Marina Krilovici. In 2014, she earned her opera diploma with distinction under Cellia Costea.

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Immersing herself in the performing arts, Marilena graduated from the Drama School of the Greek Art Theatre "Karolos Koun" in 2015 and further honed her skills at the Opera Studio of the Greek National Opera in 2016.

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In 2021, she graduated with a Master of Arts in classical singing from the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp under Andrew Richards. Marilena's academic journey included directing two diverse performances, showcasing her versatility: "Therapeutic," a musical exploring mental health, and "Δέησις," an interdisciplinary tribute to Ancient Greece with songs based on ancient Greek music and scenes from classical tragedies.

The directing path unfolded during Marilena's internship at the Olympia Municipal Music Theatre “Maria Callas” in Athens, where she served as an assistant director under the guidance of George Petrou for Mozart’s Idomeneo. 

Since 2012, Marilena has pursued a multifaceted career, performing in various productions as a soloist, actress, and musician at opera houses, concert halls, and theatres. Notable collaborations include playing the santur in Axion Esti in 2015 with the Orchestra Mobile, a tribute for the 90th birthday of Mikis Theodorakis, performed in front of 15,000 people. Additionally, Marilena cooperated with the ODC Ensemble in the contemporary opera The Cave, showcased in Greece and various European opera festivals including Copenhagen Opera Festival, Aalborg Operafestival, Be Festival, and Operadagen Festival during 2016-2017. 

Marilena currently resides in Belgium, where she delves into a new musical chapter by singing Greek folk songs with her santur. Exploring the rich repertoire of Smyrna songs and Rebetiko, she has embarked on exciting collaborations, including performances with the Brussels Balkan Orchestra, Gipsy-Ska Orchestra, on stages in Belgium and The Netherlands.


 

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