Greek music promotions company Giant Entertainment has agreed to donate proceeds from the upcoming Greek Legends Australian tour spearheaded by Stelios Dionisiou and bouzouki maestro Thanasis Polykandriotis this month to Pronia, the Greek social services provider in Melbourne, on occasion of its 50th anniversary.
"We are honoured and delighted to contribute to an organisation like Pronia, which has served, empowered and cared for the Greek community for 50 years since its early days of supporting the first wave of vulnerable Greek migrants. And what better way to do it than through music and not just any music, the music of some of the greatest names of Greece's entertainment industry performed by Stelios Dionisiou himself!" said Wayne Kalil for Giant Entertainment.
PRONIA launched its 50th anniversary year celebrations recently with a special evening at the Hellenic Museum.
The event was hosted by PRONIA’s president Ms Kris Pavlidis and the list of guests included dignitaries, community leaders, PRONIA’s co-founders, media representatives as well as PRONIA staff.
PRONIA’s CEO Mrs Tina Douvos-Stathopoulos opened the event thanking everyone for their attendance and support of the organisation, providing an overview of PRONIA’s services over the years.
“When the organisation was first established in 1972, in its first year of operation it served 1054 cases and this was done by the volunteers who worked tirelessly with the community,” Mrs Tina Douvos-Stathopoulos said.
“Fast forward to this year and the last financial year in particular, where the organisation serviced 8,500 people showing how relevant and necessary our services are today. The organisation has gone from strength to strength although facing many challenges in the form of policy changes, in the reforms within aged care, disability services, even family services, however we will continue to work through those and remain innovative to ensure we are relevant to the community and future generations.”
Mrs Tina Douvos-Stathopoulos went on to express her gratitude for what started 50 years ago as a simple service, and now become an iconic institution of which the entire community can be genuinely proud.
The highlight of the night came from Australian Greek Welfare (PRONIA) co-founder Dr. George Papadopoulos who delivered a polemical and often self deprecating humorous speech.
Following the recent success of the Yannis Kotsiras tour of Australia, two of the biggest names in the Greek entertainment industry will be travelling Down Under to perform for the Greek diaspora and music lovers in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide starting from May.
The news, confirmed by Giant Entertainment, will see Greece’s greatest living bouzouki player Thanasis Polykandriotis with the son of a legend, Stelios Dionisiou joined by Agni Kaloumenou, Kostas Palangas and The Maestro, Nikolaos Stratigos performing for Australian audiences.
Joining them is the greatest ensemble of Greek musicians ever assembled in Australia including 30 musicians, singers, and dancers who combine their supreme talents in spectacular fashion, paying tribute to the musical icons of the past hundred years.
If you missed last year’s event, here is your chance to see what all the fuss was about! Considered to be the best concert of the past 50 years by many who attended, this really is a concert not to be missed!
The magic of Theodorakis, Kazantzidis, Marinella, Dalaras, Alexiou, Demis Roussos, Nana Mouskouri and the inimitable Maria Callas is brought to life in a concert of epic proportions.
Polykandriotis dazzled the world with his army of bouzouki players at the Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympics, and introduced music lovers to the beauty and power of the quintessential Greek instrument that is the bouzouki.
The Australian concert extravaganza will be directed by the critically acclaimed Penny Pavlakis, who after more than 25 years of performing on the world Opera and Contemporary stages, will grace the stage and join in presenting Australian audiences with memorable classics and a performance for the ages.
All tickets can be purchased at www.giantentertainment.com.au
