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About Us

Who are we?

EastMedArts, established in 2019 by the artist collective “Loustri” (meaning “Shoeshine boys” in Greek), is a dynamic cultural agency dedicated to empowering musicians and ensembles. This partnership provides extensive support services to music agencies, festivals, and concert venues, both within Greece and internationally. Beyond artist support, EastMedArts is also a prolific producer and publisher of audiovisual content. This content draws inspiration from the rich cultural tapestry found in the regions surrounding the Aegean Sea, the East Mediterranean Sea, and beyond, highlighting the diverse heritage of these areas.

The collective champions a broad spectrum of musical styles, demonstrating a commitment to borderless artistic expression. Their repertoire includes Rock, Jazz, World music, Rebetika, Traditional and contemporary Greek art music, Tango, and Classical. This eclectic approach embodies their philosophy: “No time, no borders in music expression!”



Yannis Saoulis – chairman of the board

Vocals -Bouzouki

Born on May 1, 1962, in Thessaloniki, this accomplished bouzouki player began his musical journey by self-teaching from 1976 and went on to study oboe and music theory at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki from 1982 to 1986. He later pursued academic studies in philosophy and political science at universities in the Netherlands from 1986 to 1997, before relocating to Istanbul, Turkey, from 2000 to 2007. Over his career, he has produced more than 20 albums and created music for theater, earning the Afife Jale award in 2001, while performing internationally across multiple countries. Additionally, he held a position as a sales representative for Sony DADC in Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Cyprus and N. Macedonia. from 1998 to 2011


Ioannis Hatzistoyannis – Secretary
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Vocals – Guidar

A chemical engineering graduate from Moscow University, this individual has held significant leadership roles, including President of the Greek students’ association in Moscow and Vice President of the alumni association for former USSR universities. With experience as a freelancer in international trade and tourism consultancy, he served as a Municipal Councilor and Vice President of the financial committee in Pylaia-Chortiatis from 2014 to 2019. His active engagement in politics began during his student years, with a focus on Culture, Ecology, and Self-Management, while maintaining a lifelong passion for music.


Vasilis Prokopiou – board member
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Radio Producer – Audio/Video Producer – Sound Engineer – Music Producer – Festival event Coordinator.

Vasilis Prokopiou, born on May 13, 1970, in Ostrava, Czech Republic, to Greek parents, moved to Greece in 1983 and began his music journey in 1985 as a guitarist. He founded the rock band “REATIVE,” active from 1997 to 2011, while also pursuing a career in sound engineering at various venues and studios. A passionate promoter of music, he organized the “Rock On Festival Thessaloniki” from 2010 to 2015, and notable events like a charity concert for KETHEA featuring Gus G in 2014, as well as the “Rock On The Beach” festival in 2015. Additionally, he has been a radio producer since 2014, hosting “The Locals show” on Radio Thessaloniki 94.5 FM, and is the founder of “Prokopiou Studio,” specializing in photography and video production.


Leonidas Kyridis – board member

Double Bass

Born on August 28, 1969, in Larissa, he studied classical guitar and theory at the Conservatory of Municipality of Larissa before graduating from the Thessaloniki State Conservatory with a focus on double bass. He performed with the Symphony Orchestra of Thessaloniki and the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, and from 1991 to 2013, collaborated with a variety of ensembles across genres including classical, jazz, and traditional music. Throughout his career, he worked with numerous Greek composers, the State Theater of Northern Greece, various choirs, and orchestras, and has played concerts in both Europe and America.


Alexandros – Azat Saoulis – Finance
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Piano – Percussion 

Alexandros, born on September 10, 2003, in Istanbul, Turkey, moved to Thessaloniki, Greece at the age of four, where he attended the Music School of Thessaloniki from 2015 to 2021. Since 2017, he has been honing his skills in piano and music theory at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, while also composing and producing music in his personal studio under the name Vankh. In addition to his musical talents, he excels in graphic design, showcasing his creativity across multiple platforms.


Gogos Vartsakis –

Guitar – Vocals

Thanasis Tsitsaris –

Cello – Guitar – mandolin

Spiros Papadopoulos –

Bouzouki – Vocals

Apostolos Kaltsas –

Guitar – Vocals

Tasos Tsonis –

Percussion


Alexis Stefanidis –

Pontus Lyra – Vocals

Valantis Kapourelakos –

Guitar – Vocals

Nikos Taleas –

Accordion – Vocals

Nikos Varyamidis –

Drums


Yannis Rizopoulos –

Percussion

Augoustinos Petrou –

Bouzouki – Vocals

Maria Ketikidou –

Guitar – Vocals

Gorkem Okten –

Kanun – Vocals


Dimitris Arabatzis –

Accordion

Kosmas Papadopoulos –

Accordion – Clarinet

Asimoula Azize Saoulis –

Guitar – Vocals

Nikos Skoutelas –

Percussion

Alexandros Terekidis –

Vocals


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