Greek composer creates new piece for Istanbul: To take center stage

Dimitris Skyllas: Afterpop, the documentary about composer Dimitris Skyllas, was screened at the 43rd Istanbul Film Festival, April 24, 2024. (Photo via Mete Kaan Ozdilek)

Greek‑British composer and pianist Dimitris Skyllas has been revealed as the inaugural resident artist in Istanbul Modern’s latest iteration of its International Artist Residency Programme. Supported by the British Council’s Grant Programme for Creative Collaborations, Skyllas has composed the new solo piano piece specifically for Istanbul, and it will premiere at Istanbul Modern on September 12, 2025.

Skylass fuses past and future

Born in 1987 in Volos, Greece, Skyllas has earned a reputation for fusing ritualistic Greek lament traditions with contemporary soundscapes. His works ranging from Kyrie Eleison, commissioned by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, to Abyss at the V&A Museum, have been celebrated at leading venues including the Barbican, Westminster Abbey and Ancient Epidaurus.