IZAKI METROPOULOS
Folk Musician
about izaki
Izaki Metropoulos is a seasoned multi-instrumentalist with nearly two decades of experience specializing in Greek folk music, rebetiko, and laiko. He has performed in five countries and over 30 U.S. cities, appearing regularly at cultural festivals and events celebrating traditional music.With a deep foundation in Greek musical traditions and a repertoire that extends into Balkan and Ottoman classical music, he has collaborated with a variety of ensembles at folk festivals nationwide.
musical journey
Izaki Metropoulos began studying Greek music in 2007 when he joined the Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society, a Chicago-based organization dedicated to preserving Greek folk dance, song, and music. After receiving a CD filled with mp3s from various regions of Greece, he became captivated by the diverse musical traditions and left his classical lessons to pursue self-teaching Greek music. His primary influences remain Stathis Koukoularis, Kyriakos Gouventas, and Nikos Hatzopoulos.Later that year, at ten years old, he was invited to perform at the University of Chicago Balkan Fest, marking his first major performance in Greek traditional music. That summer, he won the Midwest Fiddle Championship with a sousta from the island of Rhodes.Since then, he has performed for numerous private events and cultural celebrations, bringing Greek traditional music to diverse audiences. His work has taken him across the U.S. and abroad. Notably, he was featured on Chicago radio station WBEZ as a collaborating artist while performing with Jim Stoynoff in Iron Heart Chicago (2015), conducted field research on the musical traditions and dances of the island of Kea with Anthony Platis (2017), and performed opera with both the Berkshire Symphony Orchestra (2022)—becoming the first-ever tenor to win the Berkshire Symphony Student Soloist Competition—and the Mediterranean Opera Studio and Festival (MOSF) in Caltagirone, Sicily (2022).In addition to performing, he has taught workshops at folk festivals, accompanied award-winning dance suites at the Hellenic Dance Festival (HDF), and showcased music from regions across Greece—from Thrace, to the Cyclades and Dodecanese in the Aegean Sea, to the Eptanisa in the Ionian Sea. Over the years, he has expanded his instrumental proficiency to include guitar, laouto, lavta (politiko laouto), and mandolin, allowing him to further explore and interpret the rich traditions of Greek and folk music.He continues to cultivate this passion and share his experiences through performance, keeping these musical traditions alive for new audiences. 🎻
Contact
For general inquiries, or collaboration opportunities, I’d be happy to help.Fill out the form below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Text
Thank You for Reaching Out!
Your message has been received! I appreciate your interest and will get back to you as soon as possible. Whether it’s about a performance, festival, workshop, or collaboration, I look forward to connecting and bringing Greek music to your event.If it’s urgent, feel free to follow up via email at [email protected].Talk soon! 🎻