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Menelaos Peistikos (b. 1995) is a Greek composer, pianist, and novelist. He was selected among the winners in several world and panhellenic composition competitions and calls for scores such as the 7^th Molinari String Quartet World Composition Competition (3^rd Prize and 1^st Prize of the Public), the 4^th Opus Dissonus Composition Competition for solo piano (2^ndPrize), 2024 SEED Composition Academy, and the 2021 Open Call for Young Greek Composers – Israeli Chamber Project. Over the past three years, his compositional style has shifted in response to his growing interest in Zen Buddhist philosophy and traditional Japanese music. His recent works emphasize sound color as a medium for meditation and emotional depth, something which allowed him to create works that invite listeners into a space of solitude and existential reflection. Menelaos holds an MA in Composition in University of Toronto under the supervision of composer Christos Hatzis, and since September 2022 he began there his DMA in Composition where he is admitted with a full scholarship. Menelaos is the recipient of Nikos Evdemon Graduate Scholarship, University of Toronto Fellowship and the Hellenic Initiative Scholarship. Before continuing his studies with Professor Hatzis, Menelaos studied composition for seven years with Professor Altin Volaj. He has also received music theory degrees (Counterpoint and Fugue) and the Diploma in Composition with Professor Costas Tsougras, and the Degree in Piano with Professor Victoria Victoratou from the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki. Menelaos also holds a BA Honours Degree from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In December 2024, he made his debut as a writer with his philosophical fiction novel ΜΑΚΑΡΙΟΙ ΘΕΑΤΕΣ (BLESSED VIEWERS) published in Greek language.

Live at St. Paul’s Chapel — or, watch on YouTube.

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