NEW YORK – Maria Stefanidou, a 16-year-old student and pianist in Professor Vivianna Spyrou’s class at the Kopanos Philharmonic in the Municipality of Naoussa, Imathia, recently won the First Prize with Honors in the International Youth Music Competitions (IYMC) based in the U.S., in the Senior category (14-18 years old), performing the work ‘Married Life’ by Michael Giacchino on the piano.
This exceptional global distinction is accompanied by a unique, honorary invitation: Maria is invited to travel to the United States and perform live at the 2026 Prize Winners’ Recitals, which will take place September 5-6, at the renowned venue The DiMenna Center for Classical Music in Manhattan.
“The participation of a young Greek musician from a provincial village in Macedonia on such a great international stage is a source of pride for our country,” said Professor Vivianna Spyrou. “However, the realization of this journey of a lifetime encounters serious financial obstacles, as the cost of travel and accommodation for her and her companion is particularly high for the family and our Philharmonic.”
Maria Stefanidou recently won the First Prize with Honors in the International Youth Music Competitions based in the U.S. Photo: Courtesy of Professor Vivianna Spyrou
Professor Spyrou reached out to The National Herald to share Maria’s story. “We firmly believe that highlighting the issue could raise awareness among members of the dynamic Greek community in New York who love culture, so that they can find helpers and sponsors for the travel expenses,” Spyrou noted. “We thank you very much for your time and for your continued support of Hellenism and the youth of our homeland.”
Maria began her musical journey at the age of 8 at the Kopanos Philharmonic, under Professor Spyrou’s guidance.
“From the beginning, her love for the piano was evident, while the dedication she shows to her studies is impressive,” said Spyrou. “Her musical development is the result of a journey that includes continuous work and participation in many events of our Philharmonic. In fact, Maria has accompanied the choir and musicians at our events, an experience that helped her develop her stage presence and ability to collaborate harmoniously with other musicians.”
Greek pianist Maria Stefanidou was invited to perform at the 2026 Prize Winners’ Recitals in New York September 5-6. Photo: Courtesy of Professor Vivianna Spyrou
“Her family is constantly by her side, emotionally supporting her every step and recognizing our joint effort,” Spyrou noted. “Maria herself is looking forward with great anticipation to the New York recital in September, seeing this performance as a very important milestone in her musical career.”
View Maria performing the award-winning piece on YouTube: https://shorturl.at/sNZuJ.
For more information on sponsoring Maria’s participation in the IYMC 2026 Prize Winners’ Recitals, contact Professor Spyrou of the Kopanos Philharmonic Orchestra in Greece by phone: 6974961446 or via email: [email protected].
