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Maeandros High Resolution Photos (color, 8x10):

“Dark Mesmerizing Intensity...get to know this amazing band.”

Maeandros is the Ancient Greek name of the river that “meanders” throughout Asia MInor (modern–day Turkey). Just as this ancient and mighty river winds through different regions and towns, Mavrothi Kontanis and the Maeandros Ensemble transport their audiences through various genres of related musical traditions from Asia Minor and the Aegean Region: Folk Songs of the Countryside, Urban Songs from the City Centers, Ottoman Music, and Regionally Inspired Original Works are all effortlessly intertwined in each Maeandros performance.

One of the main aspects of this mixed repertoire is the importance of the shared cultural heritage of the region.  Greek, Turkish, Armenian, Persian, Arabic, Jewish, Gypsy, and Assyrian cultural influences, among others, can be found in the music Maeandros performs. This is proof of how cosmopolitan the Aegean Region has been throughout history, and a true testament to the shared nature of the musical tradition Maeandros performs.

The members of the Maeandros Ensemble are some of the most talented and sought–after performers and teachers of traditional Greek and Near Eastern music in the US, and truly enjoy presenting the shared musical culture of the Aegean in concerts and teaching workshops. The respect they have for the music and each other comes through in every performance, and the combination of faithfulness to tradition and individual creativity and expression makes every Maeandros concert a moving and truly entertaining experience.