Mandolinata Under the Moon: A Story of Resilience and Music

Strategic Insights -

In a spectacular display of musical prowess, Cyprus' first female professional bouzouki player, Georgia Kombou, brought the Limassol seafront to life with an open-air concert called Mandolins Under the Moon. Alongside six other female musicians, Kombou performed melodies from renowned Greek composers like Mikis Theodorakis and Manos Hatzidakis, leaving hundreds of attendees spellbound. This concert was not only a testament to Kombou's unwavering dedication to her craft but also a poignant reminder of her personal battle with stage four metastatic cancer.

Key Takeaways:

  • Georgia Kombou, Cyprus' first female professional bouzouki player, has been instrumental in creating a mandolinata group, Echo of Mandolins, consisting of seven women, including Maria Hadjifokli.
  • Despite being diagnosed with stage four cancer in 2019, Kombou continued performing and teaching bouzouki, crediting public support as crucial to her ongoing treatment.
  • Kombou's proposal for a municipal mandolin orchestra in Limassol was approved by former mayor Nicos Nicolaides but has stalled under current mayor Yiannis Armeftis.
  • Limassol municipal councillor Maria Diamantidou confirmed that the municipality will likely give the green light to Kombou's proposal soon, citing confusion during the handover of the municipal administration.
  • The concert, supported by the Limassol municipality, was a resounding success, with attendees singing along and requesting encores, stretching the performance to about two hours.
  • Kombou has been working tirelessly to build a mandolinata for five years, and her dream of establishing a municipal orchestra in Limassol is still within reach.
  • Maria Hadjifokli, a member of Echo of Mandolins, heralded Kombou's leadership and teaching skills as instrumental in their ability to perform together.

Statistics:

  • 7: The number of women in the Echo of Mandolins group, including Georgia Kombou and Maria Hadjifokli.
  • 2019: The year Georgia Kombou was diagnosed with stage four metastatic cancer.
  • 3: The number of months doctors initially predicted Kombou had left to live.
  • 5: The number of years Kombou has been struggling to build a mandolinata in Limassol.
  • 4+ years: The amount of time beyond doctors' predictions that Kombou has continued to perform and teach bouzouki.

Sources:

  • Sunday Mail