Other Events

DEPTAM, an ensemble from Mytilene, Greece, visits USM in March  2002

"Rembetika: The Greek Blues" was a special lecture and concert held Saturday, March 9, 2002, that explored the unusual and passionate form of Greek music known as "rembetika." Live performances of this music were given by DEPTAM, the Municipal Ensemble of Mytilene (Lesvos, Greece) conducted by Nikos Tsirigotis, which traveled from Greece to Maine specifically for this concert. A pre-concert lecture was given by the internationally recognized Greek music scholar, Gail Holst-Warhaft, with DEPTAM on the stage of USM's Corthell Concert  Hall to demonstrate the music. The lecture and concert -- and the concurrent visit of a delegation from Mytilene -- was co-sponsored by the Exchange and Hellenic Society Paideia of Maine.

DEPTAM was accompanied by a delegation including the Mayor of Mytilene, Nassos Yiakalis, here to inaugurate a new affiliation of the island with Hellenic Society Paideia of Maine. This Maine chapter of the national group of Hellenic Society Paideia is working with USM to develop a Hellenic Studies program and hopes to foster the formation of a Sister City relationship between Mytilene and Portland.

A group of Greek-Americans with roots in Mytilene, including many members of the Federation of Societies of Lesvos in America, chartered a bus to attend the performance. Those guests plus other local friends, were greeted during a pre-concert reception held on campus. Speeches were made, gifts exchanged, and new friends were made.

The same program was repeated several days later in March at the University of Connecticut at Storrs, presented by Hellenic Society Paideia there. Then, later that summer in July 2002, the orchestra repeated the concert again, this time in the new City Auditorium in Mytilene. The program included lecturer Gail Holst-Warhaft. Mayor of Mytilene Yiakalis and Exchange director Mary Snell gave remarks before the concert.

"Rembetika: The Greek Blues," was part of USM's Convocation, "Diaspora: Meanings of Home." The performance/lecture in Maine were supported by USM's Cultural Affairs and Convocation Committees, the Maine Humanities Council, Hellenic Society Paideia of Maine, and the Federation of Societies of Lesvos in America.

Photo right: Gail Holst-Warhaft lectures while conductor Nikos Tsirigotis listens during the performance at UConn at Storrs.
 

Above: Anastasios Nicodimou, President of the Federation of Lesvos Societies of America and Maine Paideia President Nikos Minadakis share a happy moment with Ilias Tomazos, President Pattenaude, Mytilene Mayor Yiakalis and his wife, Eleni.

On November 13, 2000 the Exchange presented DEPTAM, the municipal orchestra of Mytilene, in a performance of traditional and popular Greek music. The orchestra, from the island of Lesvos, was in the U.S. to celebrate the anniversary of their island's independence. Special guests included Mayor Nasos Yakalis of Mytilene, and Governor Dimitris Vounatsos of the Prefecture of Lesvos. The visit was organized in cooperation with the Hellenic Society Paideia of the University of Connecticut at Storrs. The performance took place in Corthell Concert Hall, on the University of Southern Maine Gorham campus. Proceeds benefited the Exchange. A special reception lunch to honor the dignitaries was held on November 14, on the Portland campus.

Above and left: DEPTAM performs in Corthell Concert Hall.

Above: Mary Snell, Mayor Nasos Yakalis, Governor Dimitris Vounatsos, and USM Provost Joe Wood at the special reception on November 14, 2000.   Right: Nasos Yakalis, Mayor of Mytiline; Nikos Minadakis, Hellenic Society Paideia of Maine; Mary Snell, exchange director; and Nicholas Mavodones, Portland City Councilor.

In June 1999 the exchange hosted the visit of Maine artist Thomas Paquette to Lesvos. Mr. Paquette traveled all over the island to paint small gouaches, some of which have been developed into large paintings. You can see his work at:

http://www.thomaspaquette.com/project2.html

.

Tom at the Petrified Forrest of Lesvos

Thomas Paquette with Aegean Exchange Director Mary Snell and Professor Irwin Novak.

Tom visits the village of Sigri on Lesvos

In November 1998 the exchange hosted the visit of the then Minister of the Aegean, Elisabeth Papazoi. The Minister came to USM during the artist exchange visit of iconographer Michael Akalestos to re-affirm this ongoing program between the Ministry and the University. During her three-day stay she and her associates presented several lectures. Mrs. Papazoi spoke about issues of the Aegean and showed a 15-minute professional video about the region. Her Advisor, Lina Mendoni, gave a lecture on the archeology and history of Aegean settlements. They and the Director in the Division of Culture at the Ministry, Vasso Polychroni, and assistant Katerina Lazari were hosted at a special evening reception in a private home in Cape Elisabeth, and then again at a farewell luncheon at which the Minister received the key to the City of Portland from Mayor Kane. The group went on to Boston where they were guests at a dinner of the Island of Lesvos Society of New England and at a special dinner at Harvard University sponsored by the Kokkalis Program -- all of which was organized by the exchange program director.