Choral a singing has been a central part of tradition across cultures. Some of the oldest choral music that has survived comes from ancient Greece, like the Delphic hymns from the 2nd century BC.
Brisbane’s Greek Orthodox Community of St. George choir, Ellinikes Fones (Ελληνικές Φωνές) carries on the legacy of honouring Hellenic customs and heritage.
“Our objectives are simple yet profound: Sing Greek music, connect with the Greek community in Australia and learn and develop the Greek language through music,” said Christina Xydi Lignos, co-founder and leader of Ellinikes Fones, to Neos Kosmos.
Ellinikes Fones: Uniting the community through music
The Brisbane-based community choir was founded in 2022 by conductor Christina Xydi-Lignos, musicologist and producer George Lignos, and certified music therapist and singer Katerini Manolatou.
Since then, the group has grown to include Ellinikes Fones Junior, a children’s choir for ages 6-16.
The choir also supports the GOC Care Seniors Choir Fones.
Emily Haralampou has been a member of the choir for about two and a half years now.
Although she is “not vocally trained,” she enjoys being part of a group that shares a love for music.
“Music is therapy and a language I think that unites everybody. Whether you can sing or not […] That’s the beauty of a community choir—you don’t necessarily have to be a soprano or a tenor or anything like that,” said Emily Haralampou to Neos Kosmos.
The choir “has brought together a group of individuals who may not have come together in another environment,” explained Haralampou.
The members span various ages and professions—from young students to accountants, engineers, lawyers, lecturers, music therapists, scientists, and teachers.
“It has united the community in a way that they probably weren’t united before.”
‘Tradition is our roots, and we cannot stray far from it’
In one of their videos, “Ellinikes Fones” perform the traditional song “Yerakina,” filmed at the property of Chris and Wendy Maniatis.
The song originates from Nigrita in Serres, Macedonia, Greece, and tells the tragic love story of Yerakina.
Yerakina drowned in 1870 while fetching water, and her fiancé, Triantafillos Gostinos, died of heartbreak shortly after.
The choir’s rendition honours Yerakina’s memory and the enduring power of their love, highlighting the richness of Hellenic culture through music and dance.
Christina said they “wanted to create a sense of celebration, where everyone—young and old—sings and dances together.”
“Tradition is our roots, and we cannot stray far from it. We love our tradition and believe in it. We should keep performing such songs and teach them to the younger generations.”
Revitalising Greek culture and identity
As a way of sustaining the Greek language, Haralampou said they “brought vibrancy and energy to our community”.
“They have given 10 years of life to some of our older members in the Greek Nursing Home.”
Christina, her husband George, and their children arrived in Brisbane about almost seven years ago and did not find a Greek choir, “something was missing”.
“We face challenges because many are afraid of the language but I believe that by investing in younger generations, especially as they grow, the landscape will change.”
“We are committed to passing on our Greek heritage to the next generation, and hope that our efforts will provide a platform to keep the Greek ideal alive.”
For Haralampou, the group also serves as a way for members to “extend their cultural knowledge and identity”.
“They’ve encouraged us to try to understand the history of the songs…For example I was unaware that the Greek national anthem had, 158 verses.”
The social spirit of the Greek Choir
Beyond the choir’s musical focus the Greek musicians value is the sense of community it fosters.
“It’s not just about bringing in a few talented individuals. We want everyone to get involved and work together as a group, ” Xydi Lignos said.
And, it seems to be working. Haralampou said it has “benefited community in a lot of ways outside of music alone”.
“We’ve ended up being a very nice social group and we go off to theatre and museums and dinner and plays and all sorts of things together.”
With a mix of male and female energies in the choir, dynamics can be fun and unpredictable.
While the women are “lovely,” Haralampou said the boys can be very “cheeky.”
“We do have a lot of fun—98 per cent of the time we sing, and two per cent of the time we have to pull those naughty boys into line.”
Echoes of the year
The choir, shared Haralampou, has been actively involved in various community events throughout the year.
These include performances for Paniyiri at the church, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and the Greek Community Centre’s annual Christmas concert.
This holiday season, they will sing for Archbishop Makarios of Australia and perform at the Greek Orthodox Community of St. George.
Continuing their three-year tradition, they will release the Na Ta Poume in December – an album of traditional Greek Christmas carols and accompanying videos shared on their digital platforms.
A standout moment this year was their participation in Axion Esti, a one-night concert in Brisbane that showcased the works of Mikis Theodorakis and Odysseas Elytis at QPAC’s Concert Hall on June 5, 2024.
Some of their advanced members will also perform at Spirit of Christmas, a concert featuring four choirs at QPAC, scheduled for December 20–21.
Growing a ‘musical family’
The couple, Christina Xydi-Lignos and George Lignos want to grow their “musical family”.
“We work with love and meraki, giving our 100 per cent, sharing our knowledge. We want people to come and try it out because, at its core, it’s a contribution to the community. Together, by participating in all these events, we offer something special, and that’s what makes it beautiful.”
1. YERAKINA
2. KALISPERIZO FERNONTAS
3. ARHIMINIA KI ARHIHRONIA
