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At the age of only 22, he has already carved out a significant artistic career worldwide. The Athenian public had the chance to enjoy clarinetist Dionysis Grammenos’ performance at the concert given by the Athens State Orchestra at Herodes Atticus Theatre on July 5, 2012, which was his first appearance in the Athens Festival. Conducted by Stefanos Tsialis, the eminent musician performed Mozart’s Concerto for clarinet and orchestra in A major, the last work completed by the Austrian composer before his death in December 1791.
Dionysis Grammenos’ international career was launched when he won first prize in the Eurovision Young Musicians International Competition 2008, performing live before an audience of 50,000 people in Vienna. Since then, he has appeared with prestigious orchestras, such as the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, the Polish Chamber Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonia Quartet and the Swedish Wind Ensemble. He has also appeared at international festivals and has given recitals in leading concert halls, including among others the Vienna Festival, the Rheingau Musik Festival, Auditorium Musée du Louvre, Auditorio Nacional de Musica de Madrid, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, and the Megaron Athens Concert Hall.
Daniel Stabrawa, first concert master of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, has recognized him to be a "child prodigy" and urged him to take up conducting. Dionysis Grammenos made his debut on the podium at the age of 21 with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. In 2010, he was appointed Artistic Director for the Corfu Festival of Arts, while recently he was invited to record Nielsen and Spohr’s concertos for clarinet with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ari Rasilainen. Last April, Dionysis Grammenos appeared at the Doha Opera in Qatar, as well as in Mexico City with the Carlos Chávez Youth Orchestra; in May he played at Norbertine Abbey in Grimbergen, Belgium, whilst concerts also followed in Sweden. His upcoming plans include a recital in Doha, as well as a concert in the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall.
Dionysis Grammenos has received the Leonardo Da Vinci International Award and the Gold Medal of the City of Athens. He graduated with first prize from the Athens Conservatory and continued his studies on a scholarship from the Onassis Foundation under Professor Martin Spagenberg. He is currently studying at the Franz Liszt Weimar School of Music, where he is attending the conducting class. Further information on Dionysis Grammenos can be found on his personal website: www.dionysisgrammenos.com
