Janis Vakarelis is equally comfortable as concerto performer, recitalist, chamber musician and festival director. He enjoys a major international career which has developed worldwide since he won the 1st Prize at the Queen Sofia International Piano Competition in Madrid in 1979.

He is known for his performances of the large-scale Romantic repertoire, particularly Brahms, Rach-
Maninoff, Tchaikovsky and he also excels in Prokofiev and Gershwin.

He has performed regularly at the Festspielhaus Salzburg, Musikverein Vienna, Auditorio Madrid, Tonhalle Zurich, Berliner Philharmonie, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Lisbon Coliseu, Royal Albert
Hall, Royal Festival Hall London.

Appearances in recent seasons included his debut with Lorin Maazel and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Lisbon, with Mstislav Rostropovich and Orquesta di San Carlo in Naples and with Gerd Albrecht and Wiener Symphoniker at the Enescu Festival.

Janis Vakarelis is Artistic Director of the Nafplion International Music Festival in Greece.

This season's highlights include performances with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, La Scala String Quartet,Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra of the University of Maxico,Orchestra Sinfonica di Maggio Musicale Fiorentino with Zubin Mehta and he is showcasing the World Premiere of the Piano Concerto by Rene Koering.

The President of Greece presented him with the Order of the Golden Phoenix for his services to music.

2011/2012
If you wish to revise this biography please contact the agency.