Following a 14-year course marked by collaborations with major orchestras and opera houses spanning the continent, conductor Zoi Tsokanou returned a year ago to her native town where she has been appointed as the new music director of the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra (TSSO).  

A graduate of the School of Music Studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Zoi Tsokanou continued with her piano and orchestra conducting studies at the University of Arts in Zurich, Switzerland and worked as permanent conductor at the Theater Erfurt in Germany.

«My personal journey took off from Thessaloniki and initially led me to Zurich. Ever since, my career continued to evolve with the addition of new and major stops throughout Europe. Returning to my hometown in order to serve as the music director of TSSO is very exciting for me and, undoubtedly, this position constitutes a key part of this journey,» stated Zoi Tsokanou, the first woman ever to serve as conductor at TSSO.

The Orchestra’s openness and its establishment on the European musical scene is a constant purpose for the  conductor: “In the recent years, TSSO has become established both nationally and internationally. We’re striving to strengthen its future prospects both in Greece and abroad, by building relations with artists and organizations, both national and international. When it comes to outwardness, we’ve been working intensively through new collaborations and we’re moving ahead with fresh ideas involving a series of concerts, educational programs and alternative actions.»

On the occasion of TSSO’s sixtieth anniversary coming up in 2019, the Orchestra’s new director announced that there will be a gala celebration, in addition to parallel events which will be open to the public.