Pianist and piano pedagogue Yorgos Manessis was born on 26 May 1931 in Piraeus, Greece. While still a new-born, his parents, and especially his mother Ioanna Yapapa (a pianist and pupil of Emil von Sauer who had also studied Emile Dalcroze’s method at his school in Switzerland) decided that their offspring should be raised in close contact with nature. Thus, the family moved to Manessis’ father estate in Portoheli, in the region of Argolida (Pelopponisos). There he had the privilege of enjoying a quite unique upbringing, combining freedom and strict discipline (sleep, diet e.t.c.). Body [gymnastics, Dalcroze Eurhythmics (his mother playing at the piano while he danced), boating, horse riding, trekking, swimming] and mind (piano lessons, attending school e.t.c.) were equally attended and developed. It was an upbringing that – according to Manessis himself – laid the foundation for his later artistic endeavours.

Pedagogical career

Director of the Piano Department of the University of Indianapolis – Athens Branch from February 1998, teaching piano and chamber music.

Professor of Piano at the Piraeus Music Conservatory from 1977 to date (advanced soloists class).

Professor of Piano at the Lamia Municipal Conservatory from 1987 to 2002. Responsible for the Post-Graduate Department there since 1995. Of special notice are Grigorios Zamparas, Marilina Tzelepi, Vassilis Theofilidis and others.

Professor of Piano at the Sychrono Conservatory of Athens from 1998.

Professor of Piano at the Ribaupierre Institute in Lausanne, Switzerland from 1973 to 1977.

Assistant and later replacing Alice Pashkus in Vienna, New York, and Athens (1960–1972), responsible for the preparation of young, talented pianists for careers as soloists. Alice Pashkus was the Artistic Consultant of great artists such as Yehudi Menuhin, Charles Munch, Ivry Gitlis e.t.c.

 

Education

1951–1959: Munich, High State School of Music. Bachelor in Piano Studies (1956). Studied with: Walter Dorfmueller, Erick Then-Bergh (through whom he gets acquainted with the school of Leimer-Gieseking), Oscar Koebel, Maria Hindemith (with a scholarship of the West Germany Ministry of Education).

1956–1959: Munich, High State School of Music, Diploma in Teaching Music.

1954–1957: Took Musicology Courses at the University of Munich (audit). At the same period he also studied with Olga Karabai (student of H. Neuhaus) in Nuremberg where he became acquainted with the Russian School of Neuhaus.

1947–1951: Studied music with his mother, Ioanna Yapapa-Manessi (student of Em. Sauer who was one of Liszt’s apprentices). At the same period, also studied woith Alex Tourneissen (student of Busoni).

1950–1951: Attended Economic University of Athens (2 semesters).

1959–1962: Vienna and New York – Post-Graduate studies with Alice Pashkus.

1962–1972: Continued with Al. Pashkus as his artistic consultant in his career as a pianist.

1990–2015 Founder and Director of the Porto Heli International Festival of Art and Culture. Today, the Festival is in cooperation with internationally recognized organizations such as: Numerous concerts and seminars are held each year during the months of July and August.

The Music Academy of Sofia

The University of Indianapolis, Athens-USA

The Ministry of Culture of the Democratic Republic of Russia

Prominent German State Higher Education Schools

1988-ongoing: Founder and president of the Cultural Society “The Art of Life” which is responsible for the organization of the Porto Heli Festival,[1] and many cultural seminars in Piraeus, etc.

1987–1997: Director of the Municipal Music Conservatory of Lamia.

1971–1977: Founder and director of the “Harmony” Artistic Center in Lausanne which became a center of attraction for many well known artists from Europe, Asia and America, where immense musical performances and conference activities took place. Very favorable coverage in the local press, from artists like Francoise Pollet (soprano-Paris), Thomas Christian (violinist-Vienna), Renee de Mack (flautist-Brussels), Chantal Vargas (violinist-Amsterdam).

 

Professional memberships

November 2000: Founding member of the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA), and General Secretary of.

1980–2006: Founding member and President of the Syndicate Association of music teachers of the Piraeus Conservatory.

 

Professional meetings attended

April 8, 1998: he was invited as honored guest by the Russian Ministry of Culture to participate in the 2nd Forum for Professors of Music at the Neuhaus Festival and also to give a Masterclass at Moscow.

 

Papers presented

About Moderation: An essay on the way pianist Joao Carlos Martins conducts at the piano the work of J.S. Bach for clavichord. Presented in May 1997 by prof. Dr. Hristov, of the University of Sofia, to Martins himself.

About Creativity: Presented at the 6th International Esoterical Congress in Berlin, in September 1973.

Many papers on the following subjects:

Interpretation and Way of Life

What is new in the 21st Century. “Liveliness” with simplicity and enthusiasm.

About the characteristics of Sound etc.

How to learn a new composition.

Interpretation (Aids for those who wish to explore higher ways of communication with the audience).

Bases of Kinesiology.

Levels of self-control.

Concentration/Meditation. “Intermediation” as a prerequisite of a “great” artist, and how to achieve it.

Basic knowledge of Psychology. Typical characteristics of each age: 0-7, 7-14, 14-21, 21-28.

Principles of the Pashkus method.

Monophony, Polyphony and their symbolism.

Basic rules of expression.

Many other papers presented in various seminars and public lectures mentioned in the “Seminars, Training Programs etc” and “Recognition and Honors’ sections below.

Other research activity

1965–1985: Research in Music – Philosophy – Metaphysics and:

The relationship between quality of life and musical performance.

Sound and musical interpretation.

1986-2016: Research with a group of artists and scientists.

 

Consulting

1972-2014: Musical Consultant of young artists.

 

Seminars, Training Programs e.t.c. Conducted for Business & Industry

Piano Master Classes & Speeches about interpretation, piano technique, etc.:

April 7–9, 2000 at the University of Indianapolis (main campus).

April 8–18 1998 in the 2nd Forum for Professors of Music at the Neuhaus Festival in Moscow.

1990 up to present (each July–August) at the Porto Heli International Festival of Arts and Culture.

1980-ongoing in Piraeus during the school year.

1987–1995 at the Lamia Municipal Conservatory during the school year.

1972–1975 at the Institute de Ribeaupierre in Lausanne, Switzerland: a series of seminars each year.

1972–1977 at the International Centre for Music “Harmonia” – Lake of Geneva, Switzerland. A 1-month seminar each July and a series of seminars each winter.

 

Professional Presentations, Speeches e.t.c.

An extensive concert career as a concert pianist in the sixties and seventies, with performances in Vienna, Paris, and Lausanne and widespread critical acclaim. In 1974, he introduced a new pattern to his recitals. At the end of the recital he addressed the audience and discussed subjects of general interest (in respect to music).

 

Recognitions & Honors

July 2007 – He is awarded by the Porto Heli Community for his cultural contribution in the 20 years of the Porto Heli Festival. Autumn 1999 – Lions International: Lions Greece, Award for his Multiple Achievements and Contribution to society.