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"Pure and powerful, original compositions that heal the mind, body and soul!" ~ A. Santino
MATINA COULOURIS
PIANIST AND COMPOSER
Matina Coulouris comes from a family of musicians and writers, and grew up listening to and singing both jazz and classical music. Early jazz influences included Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Gerry Mulligan, and June Christy, among many others, and live performances by jazz trios in her family’s restaurant-bar. Classical influences included works of Chopin, Beethoven, and Mozart. Matina began her earliest classical piano studies at the age of six with her aunt (a Fulbright Scholar in voice), and continued her studies with pianist-organist Rudolph Puhlman.
Matina continued her pursuit of improvisational and classical music by performing frequently in school, earning the Michigan State University Summer Music Camp Scholarship at age 14. Following high school graduation, Matina found her way to Boston, where, for the next five-and-one-half years, she studied jazz improvisation and modern harmony with Charlie Banacos. She began composing small pieces. During her studies with Banacos, she also produced and hosted three programs for Boston University Radio (WBUR), two of which featured the work of women jazz musicians. Her third program was devoted entirely to the music of Carla Bley, with whom Matina conducted a telephone interview that was included in the broadcast. Matina also produced a jazz program for WHRB at Harvard University, again featuring the music of women jazz musicians and composers. During this time, Matina also produced, as well as performed in, a jazz concert for Boston Jazz Week. It was the first of what has since become an annual event in the city of Boston.
Photos credits: J Fairbanks Photography
After several years in Boston, Matina returned to the Midwest for one year, during which time she was invited to perform as pianist for a state university jazz big band.
Matina then moved to the West Coast, where she completed her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, graduating magna cum laude from San Francisco State University. During her years at university, Matina had the good fortune of studying with many renowned artists: William Corbett-Jones (piano); Herman A. Vanderkamp (piano); Carlo Bussotti (piano); Wayne Peterson (form and design); Eric Moe (composition); Henry Onderdonk (music theory); and Laszlo Varga (cello ensemble). Following graduation, Matina continued with performances in chamber music and in ensembles at the JazzSchool in Berkeley, California.
Matina loves music of many genres. Favorite artists include Loreena McKennitt, Helene Grimaud, Weather Report, and British bands of the 1960s.
Matina is a Whisperings: Solo Piano Radio artist. Her music is regularly aired on Whisperings: Solo Piano Radio, an internet radio station.
Matina is grateful to her loving family and friends, who continue to be a source of encouragement and inspiration.
