05/05/2026

Dear friends and participants of the “Listening to the Young” Programme,

We are delighted to announce the final results of the “Listening to the Young 2026” competition, concerning concerts for 2026, with the observation that this year too the artistic standard was very high – something noted by all the judges.

The awards from the KOA, KOTH, the Heraklion Conference and Cultural Centre, and The Underground Youth Orchestra, which concern concerts to be scheduled by the respective organisations in 2027, will be announced shortly.

Below is the shortlist of ten candidates, which was put forward to Mr. Giannis Vakarelis, Mr. Loukas Karytinos, Mr. Simos Papanas, Mr. Myron Michailidis, Mr. Nikolaos Kavakos, and Mr. Kostas Iliadis, as well as the selections made by Mr. Giannis Vakarelis and Mr. Nikolas Kavakos.

All names are listed in alphabetical order.

Ten candidates who were shortlisted:

1. Petros Andreadis, clarinet
2. Alexandros Vasilakis, piano
3. Daniel Kolanian, piano
4. Athanasios Kyparos, violin
5. Stelios Mastrogiannis, violin
6. Giannis Papagiannopoulos, cello
7. Nikolas Pappas, piano
8. Giorgos Peponis, piano
9. Margarita Petridou, viola
10. Mateo Sestani, cello

1. Three winners who will give three individual recitals and one recording, as well as two shared concerts: one at the Ancient Theatre of Oiniades in Messolonghi on 19 July 2026, and one in the Dimitris Mitropoulos Hall of the Megaron Athens Concert Hall (MMA) on 10 January 2027 (final selection by Mr. Vakarelis):
   1. Petros Andreadis, clarinet
   2. Daniel Kolanian, piano
   3. Stelios Mastrogiannis, violin

Following a decision by Mr. Vakarelis, specifically for the concert at the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron Mousikis), Nikolas Pappas (piano) will also take part.

1. Three winners who will perform together in a concert at the International Classical Music Festival of Syros – SYRREO, on 15 July 2026 (selection by Mr. Kavakos):
2. Stelios Mastrogiannis, violin
3. Giannis Papagiannopoulos, cello
4. Nikolas Pappas, piano

The second round of awards is still pending and will be announced as soon as possible.

Thank you all for your participation and for the high artistic and professional standard.

With thanks to our Sponsors and Partners:  

Athens State Orchestra, Diazoma, Thessaloniki State Orchestra, Athens Concert Hall (Megaro Mousikis Athinon), 3rd Programme Radio (90.9 · 95.6), The Underground Youth Orchestra, SYRREO Festival, Cultural Conference Center of Heraklion Crete, Vinci Association, Kapetan Vasili & Karmen Konstantakopoulou Foundation, Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos,” and the Hellenic Republic – Region of Peloponnese.