About the Orchestra
The mission of the Hellenic and Near Eastern Musical Society is to promote and enhance awareness of Greek and Near Eastern music in America and beyond. The Society believes that its music represents a key component of Hellenic and Near Eastern culture, transcending all boundaries of age, politics, religion, ethnic origin and socioeconomic strata. Unique in its many artistic forms, the music serves as a universal language, appreciated and understood by all. To quote the noted Greek poet Kostis Palamas, "The ancient Greeks imbued music with meaning. For them, poetry was music, philosophy was the highest form of music; everything that systematically and harmoniously shapes life was music; every refinement of the soul was music."
One of the Society's principal undertakings has been to support the music performances of its orchestra, the Hellenic and Near Eastern Musical Society Orchestra, a 25-piece orchestra. With nearly all instruments played acoustically, this orchestra presents a unique and sophisticated sound for concerts and other special events. The group offers a concert program featuring a repertoire of pieces by such noted Greek composers and performers as Hatzidakis, Theodorokis, Markopoulos, Moschos, Tsitsanis, Dalaras, Alexiou, and Glykeria.
Both the Society and orchestra were created in 2000 by Frederick Elias, Christos Papoutsy, and Mary Papoutsy with a grant from the Christos and Mary Papoutsy Charitable Foundation.
