JULIE KARAGOUNI
Soprano Julie Karagouni was born in Thessaloniki. She studied classical singing (monody) at The New Conservatory of Thessaloniki (class of V. Tsambali), where she graduated with excellent marks, high distinction and honors.
She continued master classes in Italy with G. Ravazzi and F. Mattiucci and in Greece with V. Gavakou and Ch.Alisafis and later on with D.Yakas.
She also participated in seminars with R. Bruson, Hermann Prey, Gaelyne Gabora, Ghena Dimitrova, Linda Hutchison, Gordon Stewart, S. Maglie, S. Vizioli, Rigacci, Christa Ludwig, B.Nickle, D. Theodosiou and A. Christofelis.
She has taken scholarships for studies and seminars in Greece and abroad from The New Conservatory of Thessaloniki, The Organization «Thessaloniki-Cultural Capital of Europe 1997», the Italian «Spazio Musica» organization, The «Rocca Delle Maccie» song contest in Italy. She has won several prizes and distinctions in various opera contests in Greece and abroad.
Her first performance at the lyric theatre was in 1997 at the production of Thessaloniki’s Opera Workshop presenting the first role of Mrs Flora at the opera «The Medium» of Menotti.
A year later she performed as Giorgetta in Puccini's opera «II Tabarro» in Italy.
In collaboration with The National Opera Theatre she performed the first role of Barbara at the opera “The Posessed” of C. Vrondos, the role of D. Saburova at the opera of Rimsky - Korsakov “The Tsar's fiancée”, the first role of Lady Mackbeth at the opera of G. Verdi “Mackbeth”,the role of Maria Kourmi at the “100 years of Greek Operete”, and the role of Ines ath the opera of G.Verdi “Il Trovatore” at
Herodeion.
She has also collaborated with Αthens’ Megaron, The Opera of Thessaloniki (Aida, Verdi, in the role of Aida, Magic Flute, Mozart), The National Orchestra of Athens, The Orchestra of Municipal of Thessaloniki, The Saxophone Orchestra of Nikea and The Philarmonic Orchestra of Lavrio.
In June 2005, during the Festival “Nights of Moscow” she sang in Moscow and spoken in conference about Greek Music.
Ιn July 2008, in Olympic Games of Bei-jing, she made the role of Aida in the great production of Opera “Aida” with the collaboration between Cairo Opera House and the National Center for the Performing Arts in Bei-jing (N.C.P.A). Also, she sang the same role in May 2009 and in January 2010 in Cairo.
In June 2010, she was invited by the Cultural Center of Greece in Cairo, and in collaboration with the Opera of Cairo, she gave personal recitals at the Opera of Cairo and Alexandria
.She was also a soloist in oratorio's such as “Messa” of Bruckner, «Requiem» of Dvorzak, «Messa» G dur of Schubert e.t.c. She has given various personal recitals all over Greece
She has also studied classical guitar in the class of E. Asimakopoulos.