Hailed by Fanfare Magazine as possessing "technical aplomb in very challenging violin works that qualifies him as a top flight virtuoso," and praised by The Strad for performances where "the fingers run flawlessly but the heart has plenty of room to hover in the horizon," Georgios Demertzis brings over four decades of international performance experience to advanced online violin instruction for intermediate and advanced students worldwide.
Born in Chalkida, Greece in 1958, Georgios graduated with first prize from the Hellenic Conservatory, where he studied with the legendary Stelios Kafantaris. He continued his advanced studies with Max Rostal in Bern, Switzerland, establishing the foundation for a distinguished international career. His early achievements include winning the 1981 Alberto Curci Competition and receiving the prestigious Montsenigos Prize from the Academy of Athens in 1986.
As a soloist, Georgios has performed with major orchestras throughout Europe, including the European Union Orchestra, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, and all major Greek orchestras. His performances have graced festivals across Europe, the United States, and Australia. Among his most remarkable achievements is his performance of all 24 Paganini Caprices as solo concertos—a feat he has accomplished even in recent years, demonstrating his sustained virtuosic command of the instrument.
Georgios's vast repertoire spans from Baroque to contemporary, moving seamlessly from Vivaldi's Four Seasons to Piazzolla's, from Bach and Beethoven to Bartók, Shostakovich, and Skalkottas. Over the years, he has solidified his international reputation as the prime interpreter of works by Nikos Skalkottas and Carl Nielsen, and as the foremost champion of modern Greek composers. The Strad recognizes him as Skalkottas's definitive interpreter, noting: "Come with me Nielsen seems to say, and Demertzis follows with a will....Highly stimulating." The BIS label acknowledges Demertzis as "the foremost defender" of Nielsen's opus.
His commitment to Greek music led him to found the New Hellenic Quartet, with whom he has recorded works by more than 20 Greek composers. He has premiered numerous Greek works—solo pieces, chamber music, and concertos—several of which are dedicated to him. His collaboration with composers includes Sicilianos, Kondogiorgos, Dragatakis, Tsalahouris, Tsontakis, Constantinides, and Mikis Theodorakis. For Theodorakis's chamber works, Georgios served as editor for the prestigious Schott publishing company.
With a discography exceeding 40 recordings, Georgios's critically acclaimed partnership with BIS Records has documented major works by Skalkottas, Nielsen, and Respighi. Emil Telmányi, Nielsen's son-in-law and renowned violinist, personally selected Demertzis to record Nielsen's violin works—a testament to his interpretive authority. Fanfare praised his recordings, noting "smooth, unruffled tone production, even in the most taxing passages. The sound Demertzis produces is always clean and razor-sharp, unmarred by any abrasiveness in the double stops or passages that call for assertive bowing."
Georgios served as Associate Professor of String Performance at Lawrence Conservatory from 1976 to 2000 before returning to Greece with a vision of continuing his teacher Stelios Kafantaris's legacy and perpetuating a Greek School of violin playing. He currently serves as Principal of String Pedagogy at the Kodály Conservatory in Athens, Greece, where he teaches all levels from young children to advanced soloists.
Now offering online violin lessons via Zoom, Georgios makes his world-class expertise accessible to intermediate and advanced students in the United States, Europe, Asia, and beyond. His teaching emphasizes the pure, bold, and touching sound quality that characterizes his own playing, combined with the technical precision required for virtuosic repertoire. Whether preparing for conservatory auditions, mastering Paganini Caprices, or exploring the depths of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas, students receive personalized instruction from a violinist whose artistry has been celebrated on international stages for over 40 years.
As Georgios himself says of his lifelong devotion to music: "To play music is not just a duty, it is rather a privilege"—a philosophy he brings to every lesson with his students around the globe.
Born in Chalkida, Greece in 1958, Georgios graduated with first prize from the Hellenic Conservatory, where he studied with the legendary Stelios Kafantaris. He continued his advanced studies with Max Rostal in Bern, Switzerland, establishing the foundation for a distinguished international career. His early achievements include winning the 1981 Alberto Curci Competition and receiving the prestigious Montsenigos Prize from the Academy of Athens in 1986.
As a soloist, Georgios has performed with major orchestras throughout Europe, including the European Union Orchestra, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, and all major Greek orchestras. His performances have graced festivals across Europe, the United States, and Australia. Among his most remarkable achievements is his performance of all 24 Paganini Caprices as solo concertos—a feat he has accomplished even in recent years, demonstrating his sustained virtuosic command of the instrument.
Georgios's vast repertoire spans from Baroque to contemporary, moving seamlessly from Vivaldi's Four Seasons to Piazzolla's, from Bach and Beethoven to Bartók, Shostakovich, and Skalkottas. Over the years, he has solidified his international reputation as the prime interpreter of works by Nikos Skalkottas and Carl Nielsen, and as the foremost champion of modern Greek composers. The Strad recognizes him as Skalkottas's definitive interpreter, noting: "Come with me Nielsen seems to say, and Demertzis follows with a will....Highly stimulating." The BIS label acknowledges Demertzis as "the foremost defender" of Nielsen's opus.
His commitment to Greek music led him to found the New Hellenic Quartet, with whom he has recorded works by more than 20 Greek composers. He has premiered numerous Greek works—solo pieces, chamber music, and concertos—several of which are dedicated to him. His collaboration with composers includes Sicilianos, Kondogiorgos, Dragatakis, Tsalahouris, Tsontakis, Constantinides, and Mikis Theodorakis. For Theodorakis's chamber works, Georgios served as editor for the prestigious Schott publishing company.
With a discography exceeding 40 recordings, Georgios's critically acclaimed partnership with BIS Records has documented major works by Skalkottas, Nielsen, and Respighi. Emil Telmányi, Nielsen's son-in-law and renowned violinist, personally selected Demertzis to record Nielsen's violin works—a testament to his interpretive authority. Fanfare praised his recordings, noting "smooth, unruffled tone production, even in the most taxing passages. The sound Demertzis produces is always clean and razor-sharp, unmarred by any abrasiveness in the double stops or passages that call for assertive bowing."
Georgios served as Associate Professor of String Performance at Lawrence Conservatory from 1976 to 2000 before returning to Greece with a vision of continuing his teacher Stelios Kafantaris's legacy and perpetuating a Greek School of violin playing. He currently serves as Principal of String Pedagogy at the Kodály Conservatory in Athens, Greece, where he teaches all levels from young children to advanced soloists.
Now offering online violin lessons via Zoom, Georgios makes his world-class expertise accessible to intermediate and advanced students in the United States, Europe, Asia, and beyond. His teaching emphasizes the pure, bold, and touching sound quality that characterizes his own playing, combined with the technical precision required for virtuosic repertoire. Whether preparing for conservatory auditions, mastering Paganini Caprices, or exploring the depths of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas, students receive personalized instruction from a violinist whose artistry has been celebrated on international stages for over 40 years.
As Georgios himself says of his lifelong devotion to music: "To play music is not just a duty, it is rather a privilege"—a philosophy he brings to every lesson with his students around the globe.
Comprehensive Biography
Greek violin virtuoso Georgios Demertzis has distinguished himself over four decades as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, pedagogue, and champion of contemporary and Greek music. Born in Chalkida, Greece in 1958, he studied violin with Stelios Kafantaris at the Hellenic Conservatory, graduating with first prize, and continued advanced studies with Max Rostal in Bern, Switzerland.
Performance Career
Demertzis has performed as soloist with major orchestras throughout Europe, including the European Union Orchestra, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, and all major Greek orchestras. His international appearances include festivals across Europe, the United States, and Australia. Among his remarkable achievements is his performance of all 24 Paganini Caprices as solo concertos, a feat he has accomplished even in recent years, demonstrating sustained virtuosic command.
His vast repertoire ranges from Baroque (Vivaldi, Bach) through Classical and Romantic (Beethoven) to twentieth-century masters (Bartók, Shostakovich, Skalkottas) and contemporary works (Piazzolla). He transitions seamlessly between styles and periods, bringing technical precision and interpretive depth to each.
Recognition as Skalkottas and Nielsen Authority
Demertzis has earned international recognition as the foremost interpreter of Greek composer Nikos Skalkottas and Danish composer Carl Nielsen. Growing up in Skalkottas's hometown of Chalkida, Demertzis developed a childhood fascination with the composer's work that became a lifelong mission. His interpretations of Skalkottas's Violin Concerto—which Hans Keller lauded as work by one of the five most significant composers of the 20th century alongside Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Schoenberg, and Bartók—are considered definitive.
The Strad praised his Skalkottas interpretations: "The fingers run flawlessly but the heart has plenty of room to hover in the horizon. Three cheers, therefore, for Georgios Demertzis, who plays these musically and technically challenging scores with an impassioned sensitivity that uncovers realms of expression previously barely hinted at."
For Nielsen's works, The Strad noted: "Come with me Nielsen seems to say, and Demertzis follows with a will....Highly stimulating." The BIS label recognizes him as "the foremost defender" of Nielsen's opus. Emil Telmányi, Nielsen's son-in-law and renowned violinist, personally selected Demertzis to record Nielsen's violin works—the ultimate endorsement of his interpretive authority.
Recordings and Critical Acclaim
With a discography exceeding 40 recordings, Demertzis's critically acclaimed collaboration with BIS Records began a breakthrough in documenting Skalkottas's music across multiple genres. This partnership expanded to include major chamber works by Nielsen and Respighi, performed with the New Hellenic Quartet.
Fanfare Magazine consistently praised his recordings: "His technical aplomb in very challenging violin works qualifies him as a top flight virtuoso....smooth, unruffled tone production, even in the most taxing passages. The sound Demertzis produces is always clean and razor-sharp, unmarred by any abrasiveness in the double stops or passages that call for assertive bowing."
The Strad added: "This music seemingly holds no terrors for him; indeed he always manages to find time to persuasively swing a phrase under even the most fearsome technical pressure."
Champion of Greek Music
Demertzis founded the New Hellenic Quartet, with whom he has recorded works by more than 20 Greek composers. He has premiered numerous Greek works—solo pieces, chamber music, and concertos—several of which are dedicated to him. Composers whose works he has interpreted include Sicilianos, Kondogiorgos, Dragatakis, Tsalahouris, Tsontakis, Constantinides, and Mikis Theodorakis.
Beyond performance, Demertzis has helped discover, edit, archive, preserve, and disseminate original works by Greek composers. For the chamber works of Mikis Theodorakis, he served as editor for the prestigious Schott publishing company. His work has been instrumental in bringing Greek composers to international attention and ensuring their musical legacy.
Teaching Career
Demertzis served as Associate Professor of String Performance at Lawrence Conservatory in Appleton, Wisconsin from 1976 to 2000. In 2000, he returned to his native Greece with a vision of continuing the pedagogical legacy of his teacher Stelios Kafantaris and perpetuating a Greek School of violin playing.
He currently serves as Principal of String Pedagogy at the Kodály Conservatory in Athens, Greece, where he teaches all levels of violin education from young children to advanced soloists preparing for professional careers. His teaching is characterized by emphasis on pure tone production, technical precision, and deep musical understanding.
Artistic Collaborations
Demertzis's discerning musical taste is evident in the quality of his collaborators, including conductors Byron Fidetzis, pianists Maria Asteriadou, Noe Inui, and David Bogorad, and chamber music partners Thanos Apostolopoulos, Vassilis Varvaressos, Simos Papanas, Nikos Christodoulou, Angelos Liakakis, and Dimitris Chandrakis, among others. He is known for his respect for colleagues, affection, and sense of partnership in all collaborations—an ethos that mirrors the deep simplicity and humanity evident in his playing.
Awards and Honors
Demertzis now offers advanced online violin lessons via Zoom to intermediate and advanced students worldwide, making his decades of virtuosic and pedagogical expertise accessible to students in the United States, Europe, Asia, and beyond. His teaching focuses on virtuosic technique, competition preparation, conservatory audition coaching, and deep exploration of repertoire from Bach to contemporary works.
Personal Philosophy
When gratitude is expressed for his lifelong commitment to music, Demertzis responds with characteristic modesty: "To play music is not just a duty, it is rather a privilege"—a philosophy he brings to every performance and every lesson.
Greek violin virtuoso Georgios Demertzis has distinguished himself over four decades as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, pedagogue, and champion of contemporary and Greek music. Born in Chalkida, Greece in 1958, he studied violin with Stelios Kafantaris at the Hellenic Conservatory, graduating with first prize, and continued advanced studies with Max Rostal in Bern, Switzerland.
Performance Career
Demertzis has performed as soloist with major orchestras throughout Europe, including the European Union Orchestra, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, and all major Greek orchestras. His international appearances include festivals across Europe, the United States, and Australia. Among his remarkable achievements is his performance of all 24 Paganini Caprices as solo concertos, a feat he has accomplished even in recent years, demonstrating sustained virtuosic command.
His vast repertoire ranges from Baroque (Vivaldi, Bach) through Classical and Romantic (Beethoven) to twentieth-century masters (Bartók, Shostakovich, Skalkottas) and contemporary works (Piazzolla). He transitions seamlessly between styles and periods, bringing technical precision and interpretive depth to each.
Recognition as Skalkottas and Nielsen Authority
Demertzis has earned international recognition as the foremost interpreter of Greek composer Nikos Skalkottas and Danish composer Carl Nielsen. Growing up in Skalkottas's hometown of Chalkida, Demertzis developed a childhood fascination with the composer's work that became a lifelong mission. His interpretations of Skalkottas's Violin Concerto—which Hans Keller lauded as work by one of the five most significant composers of the 20th century alongside Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Schoenberg, and Bartók—are considered definitive.
The Strad praised his Skalkottas interpretations: "The fingers run flawlessly but the heart has plenty of room to hover in the horizon. Three cheers, therefore, for Georgios Demertzis, who plays these musically and technically challenging scores with an impassioned sensitivity that uncovers realms of expression previously barely hinted at."
For Nielsen's works, The Strad noted: "Come with me Nielsen seems to say, and Demertzis follows with a will....Highly stimulating." The BIS label recognizes him as "the foremost defender" of Nielsen's opus. Emil Telmányi, Nielsen's son-in-law and renowned violinist, personally selected Demertzis to record Nielsen's violin works—the ultimate endorsement of his interpretive authority.
Recordings and Critical Acclaim
With a discography exceeding 40 recordings, Demertzis's critically acclaimed collaboration with BIS Records began a breakthrough in documenting Skalkottas's music across multiple genres. This partnership expanded to include major chamber works by Nielsen and Respighi, performed with the New Hellenic Quartet.
Fanfare Magazine consistently praised his recordings: "His technical aplomb in very challenging violin works qualifies him as a top flight virtuoso....smooth, unruffled tone production, even in the most taxing passages. The sound Demertzis produces is always clean and razor-sharp, unmarred by any abrasiveness in the double stops or passages that call for assertive bowing."
The Strad added: "This music seemingly holds no terrors for him; indeed he always manages to find time to persuasively swing a phrase under even the most fearsome technical pressure."
Champion of Greek Music
Demertzis founded the New Hellenic Quartet, with whom he has recorded works by more than 20 Greek composers. He has premiered numerous Greek works—solo pieces, chamber music, and concertos—several of which are dedicated to him. Composers whose works he has interpreted include Sicilianos, Kondogiorgos, Dragatakis, Tsalahouris, Tsontakis, Constantinides, and Mikis Theodorakis.
Beyond performance, Demertzis has helped discover, edit, archive, preserve, and disseminate original works by Greek composers. For the chamber works of Mikis Theodorakis, he served as editor for the prestigious Schott publishing company. His work has been instrumental in bringing Greek composers to international attention and ensuring their musical legacy.
Teaching Career
Demertzis served as Associate Professor of String Performance at Lawrence Conservatory in Appleton, Wisconsin from 1976 to 2000. In 2000, he returned to his native Greece with a vision of continuing the pedagogical legacy of his teacher Stelios Kafantaris and perpetuating a Greek School of violin playing.
He currently serves as Principal of String Pedagogy at the Kodály Conservatory in Athens, Greece, where he teaches all levels of violin education from young children to advanced soloists preparing for professional careers. His teaching is characterized by emphasis on pure tone production, technical precision, and deep musical understanding.
Artistic Collaborations
Demertzis's discerning musical taste is evident in the quality of his collaborators, including conductors Byron Fidetzis, pianists Maria Asteriadou, Noe Inui, and David Bogorad, and chamber music partners Thanos Apostolopoulos, Vassilis Varvaressos, Simos Papanas, Nikos Christodoulou, Angelos Liakakis, and Dimitris Chandrakis, among others. He is known for his respect for colleagues, affection, and sense of partnership in all collaborations—an ethos that mirrors the deep simplicity and humanity evident in his playing.
Awards and Honors
- First Prize, Hellenic Conservatory
- Prizewinner, Alberto Curci Competition (1981)
- Montsenigos Prize, Academy of Athens (1986)
Demertzis now offers advanced online violin lessons via Zoom to intermediate and advanced students worldwide, making his decades of virtuosic and pedagogical expertise accessible to students in the United States, Europe, Asia, and beyond. His teaching focuses on virtuosic technique, competition preparation, conservatory audition coaching, and deep exploration of repertoire from Bach to contemporary works.
Personal Philosophy
When gratitude is expressed for his lifelong commitment to music, Demertzis responds with characteristic modesty: "To play music is not just a duty, it is rather a privilege"—a philosophy he brings to every performance and every lesson.