Duo Melis

The Spanish Susana Prieto and the Greek Alexis Muzurakis made their debut as the Guitar Duo Melis in 1999 at the International Guitar Festival of Volos (Greece). Since then they have performed in such prestigious halls as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Megaron in Athens and the Merkin Concert Hall in New York. They have been invited to play concerts and give master classes in international guitar festivals in Europe and America. Since 2006 they teach at the Conservatoire National de Region de Strasbourg in France. Susana and Alexis have won numerous prizes, both individually and together. In 1999 they won the first prize at the International Guitar Duo Competition of Frechen (Germany). The next year they won the prestigious Guitar Duo Competition of Montelimar (France) as well as the XXI International Guitar Duo Competition “Mauro Giuliani” (Italy). In 2001 the Duo/Ensemble prize at the Chamber Music Competition of Leipzig (Germany) and the same year they were the winners at the International Guitar Duo Competition of Paris (France). In 2003 they recorded their first CD after winning the recording prize “Citta di Verona” at the International Chamber Music Competition “Gaetano Zinetti” (Italy). In 2005 they successfully auditioned for the Yehudi Menuhin Society Live Music Now. The Guitar Duo Melis has collaborated with international orchestras like the Berliner Symphoniker, the Neubrandenburger Philharmonie, the Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie, the Radio Orchestra of Bucharest and the National Orchestra of Thessaloniki conducted by Leo Brouwer. Susana and Alexis have studied in Spain and Greece respectively. After that they have made postgraduate studies as duo and as solo at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague (Holland), at the High Conservatory “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” in Leipzig (Germany) and at the High Conservatory “Hanns Eisler” in Berlin (Germany). Their wide repertory spans from baroque music to the music of A. Piazzolla and A. Ginastera. As well as their modern concert guitars they use period instruments to perform the XIX century repertory and they devote themselves to historical researches on the performing praxis of that period. Their programmes also include concertos for two guitars and orchestra by J. Rodrigo and A. Vivaldi. Duo Melis. One Sound. One Melody. One perfect Unity.http://www.duo-melis.com"Revealed an ensemble notable for sensitive musicianship, virtuosic panache, and stylish performances"San Francisco Classical Voice