Paxos Festival Trust

About us

The Paxos Music Festivals were the idea and inspiration of the late John Gough, a passionate musician and long-term resident on the island. The first performances in 1986 took place in John’s garden, close to Loggos.

John Gough with the Mistry Quartet, September 1986

Formation of the Trust

The Old Schoolhouse, Loggos

The Paxos Festival Trust was formed in 1987 to enable prize-winning students from the United Kingdom and Greece to share in the study and performance of a wide range of chamber music works before audiences of Paxiots and visitors to the island. These concerts were staged in various venues on the island including Gaios, Lakka and most frequently in the Loggos Old Schoolhouse.

The first Spring Festival

In 2004 the Trust inaugurated a Spring Festival directed by four soloist members of the Ensemble Modern of Frankfurt on behalf of its International Academy, IEMA. The purpose of this new development was to provide selected Greek students and young professionals with intensive study and performance experience in 20th century contemporary chamber music.

The Autumn festivals

In September 2005, the direction of the Festival was taken over by the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, which managed the International or September concerts until 2009. In 2010, the September Festival returned to its simpler form. In 2011 the Festival celebrates its 25th Anniversary Year.

25th Anniversary

In September 2011, the Festival celebrated its 25th Anniversary Year - read all about it.