The Leon and Ioanna Spanos Annual Greek Cultural Event
Established to honor Leon and Ioanna Spanos and their commitment to Hellenic heritage, the event brings distinguished artists to UMSL each year for a program that highlights the enduring artistic traditions of Greece in conversation with the modern world. The 2026 program, **A Tribute to Mikis Theodorakis**, honors one of the most influential composers of the twentieth century. Mikis Theodorakis transformed Greek music into an international language of artistic expression and moral witness. His work spans symphonic compositions, film scores, choral works, and settings of modern Greek poetry. For audiences around the world, his music came to symbolize resilience, freedom, and cultural identity during some of the most turbulent decades of modern Greek history. This tribute performance features **The Utopia Project** with Nikitas Tampakis, presenting a program that reflects the breadth and emotional power of Theodorakis’s musical legacy. Through carefully selected works, the ensemble explores the lyrical, political, and spiritual dimensions of his compositions. The program invites audiences to experience not only the beauty of the music itself, but also the historical and cultural forces that shaped it. The event takes place at the Lee Theater in the Blanche Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL, offering a setting that brings performers and audience into close artistic dialogue. As part of the broader mission of the Greek Studies Professorship, the evening underscores the role of the arts in sustaining cultural memory and fostering cross-cultural understanding. This annual event serves as a bridge between Greece and America, scholarship and performance. It reflects the ongoing commitment of the Greek Professorship at UMSL to promote Hellenic studies, public engagement, and the living traditions of Greek music and culture. We invite the community to join us for this special celebration of music, history, and cultural heritage.
UMSL Students/Faculty/Staff are eligible for FREE Tickets. Call 314-516-4949 or email [email protected] to secure those tickets.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3495173-0
