Spyros Koliavasilis is a gifted vocalist and multi-instrumentalist performer, teacher, and luthier. He is a recognized expert in traditional Greek music with a passion for music that extends to other genres, such as ethno-jazz and other types of world music.  His true passion, however, is Rebetika, Asia Minor/Smyrneika music, and his research focuses on the music of the Asia Minor region (“Mikrasia”) and Greek composers and singers of the past. Born in Attiki, Greece, he started his music career playing oboe and bassoon before discovering his love for the oud, Cappadocian Lyre, and a wide range of other fretted and fretless instruments.  He is expert in Makam Theory and modular scales and plays music from his areas of expertise, original arrangements, and teaches and performs improvisations of Greek traditional music, known as Taksimia. He plays more than 18 instruments including oud, bouzouki, kemane (Cappadocian lyra), laouto, lavta, mandocello, saz, cumbus, baglama, and variety of lyras.

After moving to the United States where he has lived for the past 15 years, Spyros has become recognized as a Master of Greek Traditional music and has received many awards, honors, and recognition over the years, including the prestigious 2025 Maryland Heritage Award, three Maryland State Arts Council Apprenticeship Grant awards, and recognition as a Master of Greek Musical Traditions. He performs regularly at the Washington Folk Festival and other venues in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. He also has performed at prestigious venues such as the Smithsonian, the Music Center at Strathmore, and the US. Library of Congress and for organizations such as the Greek Archdiocese of North America for commemorative events, and Washington DC area cultural and philanthropic organizations, the Embassies of Greece, Cyprus, and the EU, the University of Maryland. He has many music projects going on at any one time, including rebetiko/smyrneiko duet Melos, rebetika band Mortes, Greek traditional music band Karpouzi Trio, Greek-Turkish rebetika group DC Café Aman, ethno-jazz group Trela, oud trio Tri-Oud, and new projects are always in development.

Spyros is passionate about keeping traditions alive for the coming generations and has taught for 20 years, “passing the tradition” of Greek traditional music as well as Eastern Makam system to hundreds of students. He teaches more than 20 instruments, including the Greek, Iraqi, and Syrian Oud, Cappadocian Lyre (kemane), Cretan Lyra, Cretan mandolin, Cretan laouto, Cumbus, Electric Balagma Saz, Greek Baglama, Greek Bouzouki, Greek tzoura, Greek mainland Laouto, Lavta (Constantinopolitan Lute), Mandola, Mandolin, Mandocello, Pontian Lyra, Romanian Cobza, Saz, Viola de gamba fretless, and many more in his Germantown, MD studio. He teaches singing and canto. He also restores and modifies traditional and old instruments and has a particular passion for modifying new, modern instruments to customize them for the needs of each player, whether playing modern or traditional music.

For bookings or related questions, contact us via the site’s contact page or send an email to: SpyrosKoliavasilisMusic@gmail.com