The Cypriot Fiddler, a project that combines ethnomusicology, oral history and biography, led by Dr Nicoletta Demetriou, has been shortlisted for the 2025 Europa Nostra European Heritage Awards in the Research category.
The project documents the lives and music of traditional Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot musicians, aiming to preserve a vital aspect of Cyprus’s intangible cultural heritage.
The Europa Nostra European Heritage Awards, established in 2002 by the European Commission and run in partnership with Europa Nostra, recognise outstanding achievements in the conservation, research, education, and promotion of cultural heritage across Europe. The Research category honours innovative studies that enhance the understanding and preservation of cultural heritage.
The Cypriot Fiddler project encompasses a documentary, a book, and a website. The Cypriot Fiddler book (published in 2022 by Psifides in Thessaloniki) features first-person narratives from musicians, providing insights into their personal histories, musical practices, and social roles. These narratives are complemented by essays that contextualise the musicians’ experiences within broader cultural and historical frameworks.
Dr Nicoletta Demetriou, an ethnomusicologist, singer, and specialist in life writing, serves as the director of Cyprus Music Archive, and has held academic positions at institutions including the University of Oxford and Princeton University. Her research focuses on the traditional music and oral poetry of Cyprus, and among others explores the intersection of music, ideology, gender and identity.
The winners of the 2025 Europa Nostra European Heritage Awards will be announced later this year.
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