User:Anthim/sandbox

EMMANUEL DASKALAKIS (Eμμανουηλ Δασκαλακης) was born in 1939 in the northern Greek town of Kavala. Just a few years after he was born, his pious parents moved to the second biggest city in Greece - Thessaloniki. He was grown and taught in respect to the Church of Christ, following the Orthodox traditions. Since he was a little child, he was dedicating his spare time in listening and learning the original Byzantine music, showing the first glimpse of inspiration in the Church music. One of his very popular in the Byzantine music world teachers was the archont-protospalt (senior honored chanter) Athanasios Karamanis (1910-2012). Emmanuil Daskalakis is a founder of one of the most famous Orthodox Church choirs in Greece "St. John Koukouzelis". This choir is specialized in the original Orthodox Byzantine chanting and tradition having been invited to chant in almost 20 countries around the globe. They have participated in various world events such as the inauguration of the first Orthodox Church in Havana, Cuba where Fidel Castro was present and etc. Here are the countries, where protopsalt Daskalakis has performed so far: France, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Canada, the USA, Australia, Hungary, Cuba, England, Bulgaria, Finland His CDs are widely spread not only in the Orthodox world but also in many Catholic perishes in the West, where some of them are interested in listening the Byzantine chanting. He is appointed senior chanter in the St. George Church of the wealthy Panorama district of Thessaloniki. At his address in Thessaloniki, E. Daskalakis founded the first private Byzantine music school in Northern Greece, where his choir members all engaged in serving the Holy Church developed their skills and love in the real ancient chanting. In November 13, 2008, Emmanuil Daskalakis was officially honored by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartolomew I granting him the title "archont" (senior honored) protopsaltis. He is married to Vassula Daskalakis and has three children Alexander, Giannis and Soso and two grand-sons.