Alexandros Charkiolakis
Alexandros Charkiolakis was born in Athens in 1977. He studied music at the Hellenic Conservatoire (Piano and Music Theory) and at the University of Sheffield where he graduated with a BMus(Hons) and an MMus by Research in musicology and orchestral conducting. He also holds an MSc in Philosophy and Management from the University of Athens. During his time in Sheffield he held positions as principal conductor of the University of Sheffield Students Symphony Orchestra, deputy conductor of the Sheffield Youth Orchestra and he conducted all the orchestral ensembles of the University of Sheffield. In recent years, he conducted the Chamber Orchestra of the Patras Conservatoire and the Hellenic Ensemble of Contemporary Music of the Greek Composers Union.
His research has been presented in conferences in Greece and abroad, whereas his articles have been published in major Greek and foreign musical and musicological periodicals, conference proceedings and books. He has been commissioned to write articles about music, culture and cultural management in major Greek newspapers such as “To Vima tis Kyriakis” and “Kathimerini tis Kyriakis”. He is the editor of the following books: Manolis Kalomiris – 50 years after, Athens: Fagotto Books, 2013 (with Nikos Maliaras), Autobiography and Archive of Alekos Xenos, Athens: Benaki Museum Publications, 2013 and Music Information Resources and Informative Education, Athens: Fagotto Books, 2015 (with Charis Lavranos). In November 2017, together with Avra Xepapadakou, published the book “Interspersed with musical entertainment”: Music in Greek Salons of the 19th century, Athens: Hellenic Music Centre. Moreover, he is directing the series of books “Greek Composers Biographies” at the Fagotto Books publishers. Two volumes have already been published.
His main research focus is Greek Art music with several expansions that have to do with issues of music and ideology, national identity, memory and war. He has also a keen interest in issues that have to do with cultural management and also he has presented research on musical information with a special interest in digital knowledge, modern solutions that have to do with all types of education and knowledge dissemination.
He worked for eight years as a musicologist and coordinator for educational projects at the Music Library of Greece “Lilian Voudouri” and from January 2013 he
served as Head of the “Erol Üçer” Music Library and a Lecturer of Historical Musicology at MIAM (Center for Advanced Studies in Music) at the Istanbul Technical University. In May 2017, he became General Director of the Friends of Music Society, based at Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall. From October 2021 he will also be teaching the subject of Cultural Management of Music Heritage at the European University Cyprus in Nicosia.
He has been appointed member of several Boards such as: Member of the Board at the Athens Municipality Music Ensembles and consecutively Member of the Board at the Culture, Sports and Youth Organization of the City of Athens, President of the Board of the Greek IAML (International Association of Music Libraries) Branch and Liaison Officer representing the IMS (International Musicological Society) at the Board of Directors of RIdIM. Recently, he has been appointed as a Member of the Sectoral Scientific Council for Culture, Tourism and Creative Industries of the National Council for Research, Technology and Innovation in Greece and as a Member of the Board of the State Orchestra of Athens. Finally, he has actively participated in international and national projects that focus on the digital aspect of culture and its dissemination to the general public. He has organized and lead numerous scientific and cultural events in Greece and abroad.