Greek singer Dimitris Basis has received formal federal recognition for community service and his long-running mentorship of young Australian musicians, The Greek Herald reported.
Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke presented Basis with a Certificate of Appreciation recognizing his contributions to music education and cultural exchange at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts (NHSPA).
The award highlights Basis’ ongoing work with students at the Sydney school since 2019, where he has volunteered to mentor young performers and help develop orchestral and choral productions.
The recognition follows his recent farewell concert series, “The Final Encore,” held April 29-30 at St George’s Hall. The sold-out performances marked the fourth collaboration between Basis, the school orchestra and choir, and NHSPA music staff.
Basis’ partnership with NHSPA music director Emlyn Lewis-Jones began after his first visit to the school in 2018 and developed into an eight-year cultural collaboration featuring major productions, including “Byzantium to Zorba” (2019), “200 Years: A Celebration of Greek Music” (2021), “Music from the Heart” (2024) and “The Final Encore” (2026).
Across these performances, Basis worked with students on a wide range of repertoire spanning traditional Greek music, rembetika and contemporary arrangements, blending cultural traditions with modern performance styles.
In a statement, Basis said receiving the recognition was an honor, but the experience of working with students was the most rewarding part of the collaboration.
He said the partnership with NHSPA students had been one of the most fulfilling chapters of his career and that the musical bond formed over eight years would remain with him after the conclusion of the project.
