Ivory Duo Piano Ensemble

The IVORY DUO PIANO ENSEMBLE (N. Tsaldarakis – P. Archontides) is based in London since 2005. Convivium Records Artists since 2020, the pianists have a series of releases available through all major digital platforms (latest release: October 2023), while broadcasts include BBC Radio 3, Scala Radio, WQXR (NY, US), National Hellenic Radio (ERA-1, ERA-2, ERA-3), Athens Radio 98.4FM and an array of radio broadcasts throughout North America and UK. They have been included in the American Piano Concerto Compendium (Phemister, 2nd ed.) for their recording of Helen Hagan’s piano concerto, which they edited from the manuscript with composer Lola Perrin as the concerto survives only in a two-piano version. The Ivory Duo’ s recording can be heard in the composer’s commemorative documentary by Yale University (Yale Goes to War: Helen Hagan, 2017).

Early on they were recognised as a notable duo and were included in the Lexicon of Greek Music by Takis Kalogeropoulos (Giallelis editions, 1998). Natalie was invited to membership of the American National Music Honour Society Pi Kappa Lambda (1994), while Panayotis was awarded the coveted Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians (2007).

They have been coached as a duo by concert pianists Martino Tirimo, Douglas Finch on his own compositions, and Elena Riu at Trinity-Laban Conservatoire (London, UK). The duo has worked with other instrumentalists, such as trumpeter Simon Desbruslais and pianist/pedagogue Nadia Lasserson, and many contemporary composers from the US, Greece, and the UK, such as Hugh Shrapnel, John E. Lewis, Hugh Benham, Clive Osgood, George Arthur, Elif Kardilag, Elena Pavlea. Their association with contemporary classical composers started with the Altera Musica Association through Michael Travlos and Nikos Drelas in Greece, and the Cornelius Cardew Concerts Trust and Michael Chant in London (CCCT- of which Natalie was a Trustee 2016-2021). Previously piano professors at the National Conservatory of Greece (2001-2005), and Artist Teachers of the American College of Greece for a decade, they perform in venues such as Athens Concert Hall, Sibelius Academy, Southbank, Steinway Hall, Fairfield Halls, St John’s Smith Square, St-Martin-in-the-Fields, St-James-Piccadilly. For more information see: www.ivoryduopiano.com