Petros Kouloumis
Petros Kouloumis is a distinguished vocalist and musician whose life has been deeply intertwined with the sounds of tradition. Raised in a musical household, he received his earliest training from his father, Elias Kouloumis, before pursuing formal studies at the University of Ioannina’s Department of Music Studies. There, he graduated with highest honors in Greek Traditional Singing under the mentorship of Manos Koutsaggelidis, later refining his artistry at Istanbul Technical University.
His career is defined by a commitment to ensemble work and the preservation of cultural heritage. In 2010, he co-founded the ensemble “Makam” with five prominent Cypriot musicians, and in 2014, he became a founding member of “Trio Levante.” With the latter, he toured extensively, focusing on the Smyrnaic masters and releasing the acclaimed album Urban Folk Songs in late 2017. His collaborative spirit has led him to international stages, including a 2015 theatrical tour in Israel with Aviran Maron and a prestigious 2017 appearance alongside Greek legends Giorgos Dalaras, Glykeria, and Eleni Vitali in Dasho Kurti’s “Ksene ti zitas edo.”
Beyond performance, Kouloumis is a dedicated educator and curator. In 2017, he and his brother Michalis founded the “Tropos” music ensemble to mentor young Cypriot musicians in traditional improvisation. This partnership also birthed the quartet “Cypriot Elegies,” which toured the Benelux region in 2019–20. A recognized authority on the genre, he has delivered masterclasses at Codarts Rotterdam and led specialized seminars on Smyrnaic repertoire and Rebetiko technique at the Syros Rebetiko Festival.
In recent years, his influence has continued to grow through high-profile collaborations and artistic curation. Since 2018, he has held teaching positions at the European University Cyprus and the island’s Music Schools. His long-standing connection with Giorgos Dalaras flourished in 2023 and 2024 through major commemorative concerts. Between 2022 and 2024, Kouloumis also curated a series of evocative performances—ranging from tributes to Tsitsanis and Bithikotsis to explorations of Byzantine and Cypriot song—further cementing his role as a vital custodian of the Eastern Mediterranean musical tradition.
