The female choral ensemble CHÓRES has been formed and operates under the activity of the Non-Profit Company WOMO. WOMO was founded in 2018 with the aim of salvaging, disseminating, displaying, promoting and presenting all artistic expressions that propagate culture and art, with special emphasis on the promotion of the Greek cultural heritage.
Having music as their principal focus, CHÓRES experiment on the interconnection of diverse aesthetic and cultural elements, transcending the boundaries of geography or age and utilising various means of expression for producing their artistic and social work. Founded as a result of a series of artistic events showcasing the international repertoire of traditional music organised by Marina Satti in 2016, CHÓRES grew to a choir numbering more than 150 women aged between 15 and 60 years. What unites them is their interest in the performance arts, embracing acceptance, integrating diversity, growing love for learning and participating in a community of mutual respect and support. Since their founding, CHÓRES have continued to grow by welcoming new members and strengthening their educational profile via collaboration with renowned teachers.
Their eclectic repertoire includes traditional Greek songs as well as songs from the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean. CHÓRES have performed original compositions and folksong arrangements by numerous Greek (Adamis, Apergis, Baltas, Dimitrakopoulos, Giannakos, Goyós, Ioannidis, Kapsokavadis, Klampanis, Konstantinidis, Kypourgos, Mavroidi, Samaras, Skalkottas, Triantafyllou, Tsalahouris, Zacharia et al.) and
international (Bárdos, Kodály, Sasaki et al.) composers, several of which written expressly for the ensemble.
CHÓRES have been taught by several notable teachers from various artistic fields (Thanos Daskalopoulos, Sotiris Douvas, Katerina Foti, Stavros Alexandros Ikbal, Sofia Konstantinidou, Markella Manoliadi, Giorgos Matziaris, Yannis Panagopoulos, Eirini Patsea, Georgia Tsangaraki et al.) and their members have attended lectures and workshops with respected artists (Konstantinos Bibis, Daphne David, Panos Dimas, fonέs, Areti Ketime, Katerina Papadopoulou, Kornilios Selamsis, Savina Yannatou et al.).
CHÓRES regularly collaborate with the Greek National Opera as a resident ensemble; members of the choir have taken part in productions such as Mikis Theodorakis: Lyric Images (2022), A Greek Songbook (2021), Domna’s Song by Martha Mavroidi & Maro Vasiliadou (2021), Epitaphios by Mikis Theodorakis & Yannis Ritsos (2020), Exit: Spring (2020), Medea by Nikos Kypourgos (2019), Sataneries by Theophrastos Sakellaridis (2019) and many other concerts and performances. Additionally, they have appeared at several Athens venues such as Megaron Athens Concert Hall, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Byzantine and Christian Museum, Technopolis City of Athens, Acropolis Museum etc. and collaborated with artists such as Natassa Bofiliou, Leon of Athens, Martha Mavroidi and the Yasemi Quartet, Francisco J.Núñez, Stathis Soulis, Savina Yannatou et al. They have taken part in choral festivals in Greece and abroad (Corfu International Festival, Festival “ensembles in vamos”, Crete, Cantemus International Choral Festival, Nyíregyháza, Hungary, Kodály Art Festival, Kecskemét, Hungary) and toured in selected archaeological sites throughout Greece as part of the Ministry of Culture and Sports’ programme “All of Greece, One Culture”.
During the 2022/23 artistic period and in the context of the 2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture, an educational and performing activity, with the title Mystery_96 CHÓRES, was organised; it comprised the formation of the choral ensemble CHÓRΕS of Elefsina, weekly choral and broader artistic training courses focusing on music, as well as special performances in Elefsina and the surrounding area. The choir’s participation in the celebration of the European Capital of Culture culminated in its appearance in the Mystery 0 Mysteries of Transition – Opening Ceremony in February 2023.
As part of its social mission, CHÓRES have participated in the “concerts in darkness” cycle of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, supporting the “A Step Forward” Open Accommodation Center implemented by Médecins du Monde – Greece. They have also collaborated with the Hellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer “Alma Zois”, organising a cycle of practical courses in polyphonic singing, which led to a joint
concert appearance at the Technopolis City of Athens. Finally, they have taken part in the “Side by Side” programme of the educational arm of the Kypseli Municipal Market, providing an opportunity for young female students from the Kypseli community to express themselves by singing in a neighbourhood concert alongside CHÓRES.
