Socrates Mastrodimos - guitarist

Socrates' music is characterized by its great artistry and expressiveness. Through each of his notes, he expresses his experiences in the world of Flamenco and other musical genres, and his training in classical music. Socrates is one of the flamenco guitarists of the new generation of international flamenco without borders. Based in in Andalucia, , he composes, teaches, and gives concerts playing both as a soloist and accompanying flamenco song and dance.

Born in Athens (Greece) in 1982, his first teacher was his father at the age of four. In 1992, he began studying with Eva Fampas at the National Conservatory of Greece where he obtained four degrees*. He was awarded 3 major awards at guitar festivals in Greece **. In 2006 he travelled to Seville and it changed his life. He didn't return to Greece and now lives and breathes flamenco in the land of it's origin. In July 2011 he participated in the International Guitar Festival of Cordoba where he made the personal acquaintance of the great master of flamenco guitar, Manolo Sanlucar. He was invited to his home and the master offered to teach him for free and to provide personal guidance, teaching him the deepest secrets of flamenco and flamenco guitar. Maestro Sanlucar does not hesitate to praise his talent: "... the music of Socrates has a depth and a character that makes it seem native of the Flamenco world or rather it seems that "we" are copying him ... "

His collaborators are such artists as Farruquito, Lole Montoya, Carlos Heredia, Laura Vital, Sergio Fernandez, Eduardo Rebollar, Antonio Serrano, Rafael de Utrera, Jose Anillo, among others. He has performed in the most important venues in Spain such as the Teatro de la Maestranza, the Teatro Quintero, and the Teatro Lope de Vega in Seville, La Mezquita (Cordoba), Bilborock (Bilbao) and in different countries such as Germany, England, Venezuela, Panama, Guatemala, China , France, Morocco, and Greece.

Selected Career Highlights 2008 - Interpreted the Concierto de Aranjuez twice with the Municipal Symphony Orchestra (Athens, Greece) 2010 - Debut of his first flamenco concert "Six Strings, One Heart" (Teatro del Celarg - Caracas, Venezuela) 2012 - Soloist in the homage to Manolo Sanlucar - sharing the stage with major flamenco artists such as Eva la Yerbabuena, Farruquito, Arcángel, Manolo Franco, Niño de Pura, Argentina ... (Teatro de la Maestranza - Seville, Spain) 2014 - Concerts in Panama, Guatemala with a large group of artists - acting as musical director. Lead artist of the group of world renowned flamenco dancer Farruquito 2015 - Flamenco Session Director, invitation from Costas Cotsiolis (Volos International Guitar Festival - Volos, Greece) 2015 - Interpreted the Concierto de Aranjuez under the direction of Lorenzo Ramos (Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba - Córdoba, Spain) 2015 - China tour - Presentation of the concert "De Atenas a Cai" (Beijing, Dalian, Nanjing, Fuzhoo, Dongguan, Zhongshan) 2015, 2016 - Educational project (Arte Flamenco Festival - Mont de Marsan, France) 2016 - "Mujeres de sal" - Concert of flamenco singer Laura Vital (Bienal de Flamenco - Seville, Spain) 2016 - "La Sirenita entre mares andaluces" - Production for children by the company “Flamencos por el mundo” under the musical direction of Socrates (Bienal de Flamenco - Seville, Spain)

* Degrees 2000 - Professional of with honours (Greek National Conservatory) 2001 - Classical Guitar Virtuoso with honours (Greek National Conservatory) 2004 - Classical Guitar Soloist with honours (Greek National Conservatory) 2005 - Harmony of Music (Greek National Conservatory) 2016 - Final course of Flamenco Guitar (Conservatory of Music "Rafael Orozco" Córdoba, Spain)

** Major Awards 1993 - 1st prize Classical guitar - National competition - Greek Institute 2003 - 1st prize Classical guitar - Volos International Guitar Festival 2004 - 1st prize Flamenco guitar - Volos International Guitar Festival