of the Invention of the Automobile
SYMPHO
NIC
of Greek Independence
of the Invention of the Automobile
SYMPHO
NIC
Audiovisual Work for the Cultural Capital of Japan
Marios Joannou Elia is a composer, academic, cultural strategist and artistic director whose work transcends borders and disciplines.
Blending artistic vision with cultural diplomacy, he creates landmark projects that interweave music, heritage and innovation.
Exploring sonic landscapes,
transforming the identity of places
into holistic audiovisual works.
Now Screening
Drawing inspiration from an ancient melody of the Kunqu opera «The Peony Pavilion», a form rooted in the Jiangnan region surrounding Shanghai, the project reimagines this traditional art as a contemporary symphonic dialogue. The city itself transforms into both an instrument and a stage, with its diverse locations intricately woven into an immersive and cohesive audiovisual narrative. With 250 participants and the support of over 30 partners and institutions.
/ PRESS RELEASES
Awarded the Silver Medal of the Parliament of Cyprus
The President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms Annita Demetriou, awarded composer Marios Joannou Elia the Silver Medal of the Parliament, the highest distinction of the legislative body, in recognition of his international artistic activity and his contribution to cultural dialogue, affirming the role of his work at the intersection of music, society and cultural diplomacy.
Elected Ordinary Member of the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts
The Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts constitutes the highest intellectual institution of the Republic of Cyprus in the fields of science, literature, and the arts, and brings together the nation’s most distinguished scholars, scientists, and artists. It is noteworthy that Marios Joannou Elia is the youngest member of the Class of Letters and Arts.
/ ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS
«Sound of Shanghai: The Sound of Silk and Thread»
In this episode, Elia, creator of «Sound of Shanghai», meets Qian Yuefang – a national-level inheritor of Gu Embroidery.
SMG (Shanghai Media Group) City Channel · 上海之声：顾绣——丝与线的声音 · TV · Report · China
«Cypriot composer behind the new Næstved song»
It was a walk in the dark that gave the Greek composer inspiration for the new Næstved song.
Sjællandske Nyheder · Græsk komponist står bag tonerne til den nye Næstved-sang · Newspaper · Interview · Denmark
Appointed by the Hellenic Olympic Committee as the official composer of the Lighting and Handover Ceremonies of the Olympic Flame for the Olympic cycle 2026–2030, creating the music for the ceremonies that inaugurate each Olympic Games from Greece to the host nation.
The ceremonies are realised by the Hellenic Olympic Committee in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee and the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT). They span four consecutive Olympic events at the Panathenaic Stadium and Ancient Olympia, culminating in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, and include the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, the Winter Youth Olympic Games Dolomiti Valtellina 2028, and the Winter Olympic Games French Alps 2030.
Beyond accompanying the ceremonial acts, the score forms the artistic foundation of the Dance of the Priestesses, choreographed by Artemis Ignatiou, uniting ritual movement and music into a single ceremonial language. The composition accompanies the symbolic journey of the Olympic Flame, linking the birthplace of the Olympic ideal with its contemporary global expression.
From Warsaw, Vienna, Salzburg and Munich to Moscow, Seoul and New York, Elia’s music has earned prestigious awards from both juries and audiences.
Recognized by the highest institutions of Greece and Cyprus, the Academy of Athens and the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts.
In the Spotlight
Oct. 31, 2025
20:00
World Première
Næstved Havn · Denmark
hymn for alto, mixed choir and chamber ensemble with a site-specific light installation at Næstved Harbour
Marie Borup (alto) · Ensemble Storstrøm · Kammerkoret Cantemus / Holsted Kirkes Kor · LandesJugendChor Schleswig-Holstein · Ida Poulsen (text) · Jørgen Graven Nielsen (cond.), etc.
Nov. 1 – 16, 2025
19:00 & 20:00
Næstved Havn · Denmark
version for audiovisual media and lights at Næstved Harbour
Nov. 1 – 16, 2025
19:00 & 20:00
Næstved Havn · Denmark
version for audiovisual media and lights at Næstved Harbour
Nov. 3, 2025
19:00
Holsted Kirke · Næstved · Denmark
version for ensemble
Ensemble Storstrøm · Danish Chamber Players
Nov. 23, 2025
19:00
Universität Mozarteum – Solitär · Salzburg · Austria
for guitar quartet
Kostas Tosidis · Fernando Escalante · Niccolo Urbano · Giovanni Cisternino
Dec. 13, 2025
17:00
Chiesa Luterana Evangelica · Sanremo · Italy
version for C flute and sopranino flute in F
Antonella Bini · Concerto della OpenOrchestra
May 21 – June 21, 2026
Sijing Ancient Town · Shanghai · China
photo exhibition
People’s Government of Sijing Town, Songjiang District · Culture & Sports Section, Sijing Town Government
June 10, 2026
19:30
Nicosia Municipal Theatre · Cyprus
opera of a cosmopolis
Zhao Jinyu (Kunqu operatic singer) · National Chinese Orchestra (cond. Qiang Wu) · Zheng Orchestra of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music (cond. Yao Qi ) · Jinqi Ruan Orchestra · Jazz Trio at Lincoln Center · Full Dimension Multimedia Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., etc.
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Cyprus · Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism · Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus
United Nations International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations
May 29, 2026
10:00
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Cyprus · Nicosia · Cyprus
press conference
June 27, 2026
14:00-16:00
Tianshan Dolby Atmos Cinema Theatre · Hongqiao Art Center · Shanghai · China
opera of a cosmopolis
Zhao Jinyu (Kunqu singer) · National Chinese Orchestra (cond. Qiang Wu) · Zheng Orchestra of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music (cond. Yao Qi ) · Jinqi Ruan Orchestra · Jazz Trio at Lincoln Center · Full Dimension Multimedia Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., etc.
Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism · Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Information Office · Publicity Department of the Changning District Committee · Publicity Department of the Minhang District Committee · Publicity Department of the Songjiang District Committee · Publicity Department of the Qingpu District Committee
June 23, 2026
14:30
Huiyin Theater · NEY Evergreen · Shanghai · China
Sept. 10, 2026
11:00
Panathenaic Stadium · Athens · Greece
for orchestra
Lighting and Handover Ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (Senegal)
Dance of the Priestesses · Choreography: Artemis Ignatiou
ERT Contemporary Music Orchestra · Giorgos Aravidis (cond.)
Live Broadcast by Olympics Channel, ERT and Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS)
Date to be announced
Shanghai Conservatory of Music · Shanghai · China
for suona, Chinese drums, timpani and yunluo, guzheng orchestra and choir
Department of Traditional Instruments, Guzheng Orchestra of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music · Yao Qi (cond.)
Date to be announced
Kodály Center · Pécs · Hungary
concerto for trumpet and large orchestra
Péter Solymosi (trumpet) · Pannon Philharmonic · András Vass (cond.)
Date to be announced
Athens · Greece
oratorio for soloists, byzantine and mixed choirs, traditional instruments, symphony orchestra and electronic sounds
Greek Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir · Athens Mixed Municipal Choir · Byzantine Choirs «The Masters of Psaltic Art» · «Ilissiotes Psaltes» · «Enichima», etc.
Sept. 4, 2025
19:00
Limassol Historical Archive Centre · Limassol · Cyprus
Scientific Conference «The Work, Ideas and Legacy of Mikis Theodorakis»
Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts / University of Limassol
Sept. 27, 2025
15:00
IGPE Salzburg · Austria
International Polyaesthetis Symposium
International Society for Polyaesthetic Education
Dec. 15, 2025
19:30
Presidential Palace · Nicosia · Cyprus
Conferral of the title of «Ordinary Member» of the Academy in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus
Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts
Jan. 30, 2026
18:30
European Academy of Sciences and Arts · Salzburg · Austria
Colloquium Arts meet Sciences
European Academy of Sciences and Arts
Febr. 19, 2026
11:00
The House of Representatives of Cyprus · Nicosia · Cyprus
Award of the Highest Honor of the Cypriot Parliament: The Silver Medal
Conferred by the President of the Parliament
April 18, 2026
12:30–14:00
European University Cyprus · Nicosia · Cyprus
ECMTA Conference (Keynote Speaker)
European Chamber Music Teachers’ Association
May 27, 2026
10:00–12:30
Glazbena Škola Dugo Selo · Zagreb · Croatia
Composer Portrait
International Symposium on Composition and Music Theory
June 29, 2026
14:00–15:30
Adeodata Hall · Shanghai Conservatory of Music · China
A Case Study
July 10, 2026
13:00–14:30
Fanghua Academy · Fengxian District Bureau of Culture and Tourism · Qingcun Town People’s Government · Fengxian · China
«Sound of Shanghai»: An Innovative Model for Regional Cultural and Tourism Development
Oct. 12-13, 2026
10:30–13:00
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre · Vilnius · Lithuania
Distinguished Lecture & Masterclass
Oct. 25, 2026
14:30–16:00
Eugenides Foundation · Athens · Greece
1st Dialogues4Peace – Dialogues with the Past: Timeless Wisdom for Contemporary Peacebuilding
European Accademy of Sciences and Arts · National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
March 1-3, 2027
Bangkok · Thailand
Union Académique Internationale (UAI)
Royal Society of Thailand
