Paxos Festival

Michalis Kontaxakis

Michalis Kontaxakis has been a professional guitarist for more than 20 years.

He studied at the National Conservatorium and at the Municipal Conservatory of Piraeus. He then studied at the “Robert Schumann” University of Düsseldorf.

He has performed as a soloist in concerts with various international State Orchestras and has won first prize in many international competitions among which the famous guitar competition “Francisco Tarrega”.

He has premiered many works for guitar especially composed for him like the “Estudio deligados”  by Joaquín Clerch, “Dance no 2” and “Strovilos” by Efi Markoulaki, “Hatzidakis Suite” by Leonidas Kanaris, “State of Mind” by Dinos Konstantinidis and “Nocturne for Michalis” by Michalis Andronikos.

He recorded with NAXOS in 2006 and in 2008 he recorded the work “Summer Night’s Dream” by Periklis Koukos, a work performed for the very first time, based on the renowned ballet – opera.

He tours around Europe since 2004 performing with distinguished guitarist Dejan Ivanovich. Together they have recorded an album in 2010 with KSGEXAUDIO, a German record company.

He is part of the famous EN CARDIA band and also teaches in masterclasses in festivals worldwide, as a resident in Conservatories and Universities in Greece and abroad.