NEW YORK – An evening of deep emotion, aesthetics and spiritual uplift took place on April 11, in the Chiotes Hall of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan. It was a tribute-ode to the life and work of composer Spiro Cardamis, a musician with rare talent and inner flame, who has managed to transform sound into a means of spiritual rebirth.
The organizer of this unique evening was the Synthesis Cultural Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization founded in 2011 by Christina Kostakis, General Secretary of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York. Together with its musical director and board member, Petros Hatzopoulos, Synthesis is a dynamic cultural bridge, connecting the arts, education and philanthropy through actions, events and collaborations that inspire and unite.
The evening was a combination of aesthetic perfection and emotional transcendence. Distinguished artists performed works by Spiro Cardamis, which alternated with ethereal choral interventions, offering the audience a sense of collectivity and spiritual freedom. Cardamis’ music is not just sound – it is a language that unites souls and carries the tradition, hope and melancholy of an entire people.
With an almost magical ability to orchestrate light and emotion, Spiro transformed the concert into a musical sacrament. His works were masterfully woven with songs by his father, George Cardamis – a pioneer saxophonist of Greek jazz – but also with creations by renowned composers, inspired by the folk tradition, the East, the West, and his own inner palette.
The performance was accompanied by exceptional artists such as Christoforos Zissoulis, Nikos Kouroupakis, Yiannis Papastefanou, Julie Ziavras, Olympia Mylona, Horacio Jimenez, Chris Papson, Amanda Homi, Roula Vassos and Anthi Aggelou. The choir, which also included the distinguished Dr. Stella Lymberis – known in the field of radiation oncology – gave another dimension to the work, functioning as an emotional multiplier of the music.
Also among the musicians were Lefteris Bournias on clarinet, Megan Gould on violin, Kostas Psarros on bouzouki, Angelos Papadatos on bass, Steve Vavagiakis on drums, Richard Khuzami on percussion, and Glafkos Kontemeniotis on piano.
The concert opened with speeches by Petros Hatzopoulos and the daughter of the honored artist, Olympia Mylona, who referred with tenderness and awe to the life and career of Spiro Cardamis. “Tonight we will not just listen to music,” she said, “we will experience the life of a man who dedicated himself to the beauty, communication and mystery of sound.”
Cardamis himself, deeply moved, spoke of those who supported him on this journey. Among them, Dr. Neophytos Papaneophytou and Kostas Kantzoglou, friends and fellow travelers in art and life.
Christina Kostakis warmly thanked the sponsors, the attendees, but above all the artists and Spiro himself for their passion, authenticity and dedication to art. With sincere words and respect, she referred to “their Maestro,” as his associates call him, a man who leaves an indelible mark wherever he goes.
A special moment of the evening was the speech by Lou Katsos, the new Chairman of the 2026 Greek Parade. With warm words, he congratulated the composer for his rich body of work and extended him the honorary invitation to compose original music for the celebration of the 205th anniversary of Greek Independence in New York – an event that will simultaneously commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the birth of Ioannis Kapodistrias, father of modern Greece.
The evening culminated with a symbolic gift: a small tree with gold leaves, on which the musicians, singers and organizers wrote their names. A living monument of love, honor and memory, a gift from Dr. Stella Lymberis to the honored artist.
Spiro Cardamis is not just a great musician. He is a visionary, a troubadour of the soul. A pianist, composer, arranger and educator, with studies at the Eastman School of Music and significant activity in the U.S., where he moved in 1986, he unites the sound of the East with the pulse of the West, the classical form with jazz improvisation.
His music has been presented on stages from Tokyo to Boston, from Atlantic City to Athens, while his works have been heard in spiritual healing centers, theatrical events, but also in the iconic documentary ‘Greek Americans’ with the composition ‘We the Hellenes’. With a discography spanning over three decades and pioneering bands such as Dreamband, Cardamis is a tireless ambassador of musical art and Greek culture.
In the Chiotes Hall, that evening, not only was a great composer honored – but a creator who dedicated his life to lifting souls through his notes, transforming music into a bridge of light and emotion, which captivated and enthused the large audience.
