A brief CV of Yannis Saoulis

Yannis Saoulis was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, on May 1st 1962. At the age of 14 he buys his first bouzouki and teaches himself to play. At the age of 18 he plays and sings professionally.
From 1981 to 1986 he studies music theory and oboe at the National conservatory of Thessaloniki.
At the same time, he works as a musician and singer. In 1986, he immigrates to Holland, to study Philosophy at the University of Utrecht and the University of Amsterdam, Dept. of Political Sciences.
In 1991, he takes private classes in singing.

During his stay abroad he performs professionally in concerts, social events etc. in Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany.
He works with Nikos Ignatiadis (who also lives in Holland at that time) both in concerts and publishing. He participates in many recordings (especially with the baritone Pieter Vis) of Greek repertoire.
In 1992, he starts his own label under the name of "IAN Productions" and works at his own studio.
In 1995, he forms the group "Yannis Saoulis & ensemble" with which he performs the rebetiko, Greek folk music and music from Asia Minor in concerts. He publishes his first albums and apears on Dutch media (Radio and TV stations), receiving excellent reviews for his work on rebetiko from the Dutch, Belgian, French and British press.

In 1997, Yannis Saoulis returns to Thessaloniki. His activities here include producing his own music in his studio and representing Sony DADC in Greece, Cyprus, FYROM, Bulgaria and Turkey. He also starts a new label named "Anatoliki Pili" (Eastern Gate) which focuses on traditional music from Eastern Mediterranean cultures. In 2001 he immigrates to Istanbul-Turkey.
Yannis performes with Greek and Turkish musicians including the Black Sea Philarmonic Orchestra are held in Istanbul, Thessaloniki and Athens, Cyprus, Ireland -with John Sheahan of "Dubliners". In 2001 he wrote music for the Istanbul Theatre. His music won the Afife Jale award. Best Theatre Music for the year 2000-2001. He wrote music for the movies SON of Levent Kirca, Kokkini Pempti of Christos Siopachas, Ayin karanlik yuzu of Biket Ilhan and documentaries. Yannis is merried with Gorkem Devrim Saoulis -a kanun player. Since 2007 they live in Thessaloniki with their two children: Alexandros-Azat and Asimoula-Azize.

Discography

• Souvenirs from Greece. Instrumentals arr. By Nikos Ignatiadis.
• Giannis view of Greek music. Contemporary Greek songs.
• In Bethlehem Stad. Instrumental arrangements for bouzouki and organ recorded in Tiel Cathedral.
• San Magemeno. A collection of rebetiko, songs from Asia Minor and own compositions.
• Anatoliki Pili. Vocal and instrumental improvisations on own and others' compositions.
• Ta Paralimnitika. Kyriakou Pelagia and the Mesogios ensemble - Traditional Cypriot songs. Produced by Yannis Saoulis.
• Ta Paralimnitika II. Kyriakou Pelagia and the Mesogios ensemble - Traditional Cypriot songs. Produced by Yannis Saoulis.
• Kayikci. Music from and inspired by the movie "Kayikci".
• Oloaspron Pezouni. Kyriakou Pelagia and the Mesogios ensemble - Traditional Cypriot songs. Produced by Yannis Saoulis.
• Karsi yakadan guldeste. Greek-Turkish poetry. Music pieces composed and produced by Yannis Saoulis
• SON. Soundtrack of the movie SON. Score composed and produced by Yannis Saoulis.
• Kalas Eortas. Greek and Greek-Cypriot Traditional Christmas songs. Music arranged and produced by Yannis Saoulis

In print

• Exodos. A tribute to Asia Minor with own compositions
• Mousiki gia theamata. Compilation of Yannis Saoulis's unpublished compositions written for Theatre and Cinema. Arranged and produced by Yannis Saoulis.
• Ta koina. Common Greek-Turkish traditional Songs and compositions of Yannis. Performed in both Greek and Turkish language by Gorkem Devrim Saoulis and Yannis Saoulis.
• Ta Lyrika. Arrangements on compositions of Mikis Theodorakis.
• Zivania. A collection of folk, rebetiko and songs from Asia Minor performed by men's and women's choir.