Greek-American Music Heritage Celebrated at Philadelphia History Museum
GREEK-AMERICAN MUSIC HERITAGE CELEBRATED
AT PHILADELPHIA HISTORY MUSEUM
By TNH Staff
Published in The National Herald, March 17-23, 2018
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I am excited to announce that The National Herald has given Hellenic Genealogy Geek the right to reprint articles that may be of interest to our group.
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – The
Greek American Heritage Society
of Philadelphia (GAHSP)
Photo Tour 2018, A Musical
Odyssey – The Heritage of
Greek Music in Philadelphia an
exhibit spanning 100 years,
opened at the Philadelphia History
Museum on March 10, featuring
Greek musicians and
bands from the Philadelphia
area, and tracing the roots of
Greek music, back to the arrival
of the first Greek immigrants to
the city and the creation of
Greektown. GAHSP initiated the
project nearly a year ago, researching
the bands and their
history. Over thirty bands and
musicians, including John Argyropoulos,
Lefteri Hasselidis, Neo
Kyma, Atlantis of Philadelphia,
and George Giordas were
among those featured. Harry
Karapalides, a bouzouki player
for Seizmos Music, formerly of Atlantis of Philadelphia, and Orpheus,
said, Cosmos Philly reported,
“These bands and musicians
are the soundtrack to our lives. These bands performed at
your baptisms, weddings, festivals,
dances, and social affairs
of every kind. We were at your
most cherished moments of
your lifetime and helped you
celebrate.”
Bands from the 1940s and
50s were featured in the documentary
film that was screened
at the event. The film was produced
and written by Eleftherios
Kostans, a member of the Heritage
Society and Chairman of
Photo Tour 2018. “We wanted
to introduce our guests to some
of the musicians who are still
with us and some that have
passed,” he said Kostans, adding
that “it’s all about uniting the
generations and preserving the
history. That’s what we’re all
about.”
Artemis “Tami” Tsinirigopoulos
served as Emcee; more than
300 guests attended. GAHSP
President Nikolaos Yiantsos was
honored for his dedication to
the Philadelphia community and
GAHSP over twenty years with
the first Hellenic Heritage Hero
award. The organization has
grown significantly through his
leadership, new initiatives, and
partnerships with local universities
and local media. “We are
a volunteer based organization
with a mission of preserving and
promoting Hellenism and we invite
you to join us,”
Yiantsos
said in his acceptance speech.
Yiantsos noted the success of
the exhibit and told The National Herald that it relates to
the wider American public.
“Third and fourth generation
Greek-Americans are looking for
their roots. They are interested
in their DNA and want to complete
their family tree. Exhibits
like this give them the opportunity
to complete their family
tree,” he said.
The exhibition will begin a
tour with stops at St. George
Greek Orthodox Church in Media,
PA, St. Luke in Broomall,
PA, and at other Greek Orthodox
communities in the
area.“Our aim is to record the
history of the Philadelphia community
with the motto ‘one history
at a time, a conversation
and an embrace at a time.’”
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