Melbourne composer and musician Vasilios “Bill” Tourloupis has added two more international awards to his growing list of achievements, including a platinum award for one of his latest compositions.
Tourloupis received the platinum award in the professional musical composition category at the Quebec Music Competition (Concours de Musique Québec) for “Nunca es Demasiado Tarde”, while “The Travelling Salesman” earned a gold medal in the second round of the North American Virtuoso International Music Competition (NAVI).
“Life of a Dreamer”, another of his recent compositions, also progressed through the first round of NAVI.
The results follow Tourloupis’ first international music prize, which he discussed with Neos Kosmos earlier this year as part of a musical journey that began with the bouzouki when he was young and eventually led him back to composing in his late 40s and early 50s.
Since that interview, Tourloupis has continued composing at a rate of around one to two songs a month, often working on pieces while travelling for work.
Without access to his keyboard or guitar, he has relied on his knowledge of music theory and music software to develop melodies and translate ideas in his head into sheet music.
Among his latest works is “Life of a Dreamer”, an upbeat swing composition that grew from an earlier slower swing piece, “Travelling Blues”, also known as “The Travelling Salesman”.
“Nunca es Demasiado Tarde”, meaning “Never Too Late” in Spanish, draws on his interest in Latin American music and uses a slow salsa rhythm.
The composition also became the title track of his debut album, Never Too Late, released on 13 July 2026.
The album includes several of Tourloupis’ earlier compositions, including “Reflections”, “Farewell Mister DJ” and “Holiday Blues”, and is available across major streaming platforms.
While his recent compositions have been recognised internationally, Tourloupis has not yet had many opportunities to play them.
Most of the newer works are arranged for ensembles rather than solo performance. He is, however, preparing for a gig later this month at a Greek Night in West Sunshine, where he hopes to perform some of the Greek tunes he has composed for bouzouki.
For more information on that event visit our Greek Guide events page.
He is also working on a new composition combining classical and heavy metal influences.
The project was partly inspired by a YouTube video comparing classical music with modern heavy metal, as well as a bout of healthy competition after a heavy metal band overtook him in local rankings.
For Tourloupis, the latest awards are another milestone in a musical path that has taken decades to develop – and one he shows no signs of abandoning.
