Melbourne’s Greek and wider music communities came together on Thursday night at the Brunswick Ballroom to celebrate the life and contribution of musician and performer Achilleas Yiangoulli.
The event, organised by Yiangoulli’s partner Kathy Vlasopoulos and long-time collaborator and friend, musician Irene Vela, featured many of Melbourne’s leading Greek musicians.
According to Brunswick Ballroom owner Bill Liner, the venue was near capacity, with around 350 people attending “across generations, young and old”.
“His spirit is alive here tonight” said Liner
All proceeds from the evening were donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Family, friends and fellow artists gathered for a moving celebration of Yiangoulli’s music and enduring influence. Performers paid tribute to a life devoted to artistry, education, community and music’s capacity to cross cultures.
The tribute provided a rare opportunity for musicians, friends and music lovers to come together to remember and celebrate a legacy that continues to resonate across our community.
Vlasopoulos, herself a dancer and choreographer, told Neos Kosmos she was “overwhelmed” by the outpouring of support.
“I’m very proud that Achilles was respected by his colleagues, his peers, his friends, audiences and all the people who admired his music,” she said.
“He had a huge impact, both educationally and culturally. He had a strong sense of optimism and humanity.”
Composer and singer Kavisha Mazzella described the event as “incredible”.
She said Yiangoulli had contributed enormously to “the musicians’ community, the arts community, and the Greek as well as the broader Mediterranean community”.
“When you listen to his words — and I don’t speak Greek — when I listen to him sing, I feel like I understand. I’m Mediterranean too. I’m Italian on my father’s side, and Italy was Magna Graecia,” she said.
Social media has since been flooded with emotional tributes describing the musicians as “leventes/alania, the distinctive children of the music scene”, while one post noted that “perhaps the largest gathering of community musicians ever assembled in one concert celebrated the life, work and artistic contribution of Achilleas”.
Among the musicians who performed were organiser Irene Vela, John Kostarakis, Nikos Kapralos, Paddy Montgomery, Dean Georgalas, Con Kalamaras, Paul Karalis, Paul Dounias, Aggie Gioftsidis, Stavrina Dimitriou, María Delgado Nadal, Kon Velanis, Jim Haritonas, Byron Triandafyllidis, Achilles Kalanis, Tony Iliou, Jacob Papadopoulos, Nick Koutsaliotis, George Kiriakidis, Wayne Simmons, Agi Argyropoulos, Anthea Jewels Sidiropoulos, Mulaim Vela, Zois Tsikas, Sotiris Kiokpasoglou and Nestoras College.
