The Philharmonic Society of Corfu

The Philharmonic Society of Corfu or "Old Philharmonic" was founded on 12 September 1840 by a group of eminent Corfiots with Nikolaos Chalikiopoulos Mantzaros as president for life. It is the oldest Philharmonic of Corfu which was first presented in public in 1841. Since 1900 it has been housed in a building at 10 Nikiforou Theotoki St. in the Old Town behind Liston. The colors of the Philharmonic’s uniform are blue and red, the colors of the United States of the Ionian Islands. The Philharmonic Society laid the foundations for the provision of music education on the island by operating as a school which offered free courses of both theoretical and practical music studies, regardless of gender, age, educational or living standards. It first performed the National Anthem in 1864 as well as the Olympic Anthem by Spyros Samaras during the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. The Philharmonic supports music classes to learn how to play a variety of musical instruments, as well as courses for chamber music, jazz orchestra, vocals, demonstrations, bandina and wind ensemble. Apart from local events, the Philharmonic participates in international competitions, performs concerts, makes publications, keeps a file available to researchers, and since 2010 is responsible for the operation of Nikolaos Mantzaros Music Museum. Graduates of the Philharmonic work in musical institutions all over Greece. References: Philharmonic Society of Corfu: https://www.fek.gr/history/istoriko?lang=el CORFU HISTORY: https://www.corfuhistory.eu/?p=15912 Κασάπη-Ζωντανού Μ., 19ος αιώνας: Φιλαρμονικές Κέρκυρας, Ιόνιο Πανεπιστήμιο, Σχολή Τεχνών, Τμήμα Μουσικών Σπουδών, Θεσσαλονίκη 2015.