Connecting past and present, the American College in Greece (DEREE) is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a musical night titled “A Music Journey from Smyrna to Athens” on Saturday, May 24th, at the Pierce Theater in the suburb of Agia Paraskevi. All proceeds from the event will be granted for scholarships at the Pierce School.
The leading figure of the evening will be multi-instrumentalist and singer Ifigeneia Ioannou, accompanied by her ensemble “Eivala.” The performance will feature melodies that begin in Smyrna and journey through to the heart of modern Athens, tracing the path of an educational institution founded in 1875 that continues to inspire generations. The night will include iconic Smyrneiko and Rebetiko songs featuring legendary composers such as Vamvakaris, Tsitsanis, Theodorakis, and Hadjidakis, offering the audience an emotional and nostalgic musical retrospective.
This musical event marks the grand finale of the OneFiveZero Festival, held as part of the American College of Greece’s anniversary celebrations. Through music and the stories it evokes, the event will pay tribute to the multicultural roots of Smyrna—a historic crossroads of civilizations that helped shape the college’s enduring mission of quality education, academic excellence, and social responsibility. The American College of Greece continues to uphold these same values today, transforming lives and nurturing engaged, ethical citizens.
The event is organized by the college’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations in collaboration with the Parents Fundraising Committee, with contributions from the Parent Associations across all educational levels. Supporting the musical evening are two anonymous Pierce parents, as well as sponsors including iStorm, consulting firm Accenture, Trauma2Therapy, and alumna Lena Papalexopoulou. In-kind contributions will be provided by the Greek winery Boutari, Athenian Brewery, and PepsiCo. Media sponsors for the event include euro2day.gr and mama365.gr.
Founded in 1875, The American College of Greece is the oldest American-accredited college in Europe and the largest private college in Greece.
