SOKRATIS SINOPOULOS / SOFIA LABROPOULOU / SARVIN HAZIN
concert
Sat. 15. March, 19:30
SOKRATIS SINOPOULOS Lyra/Istanbul Kemençe / SOFIA LABROPOULOU Kanun / SARVIN HAZIN Kamanche
The inaugural concert of Unbounded Sounds features Sofia Labropoulou alongside Lyra virtuoso Sokratis Sinopoulos, an internationally acclaimed artist and a pivotal figure in global jazz and Eastern Mediterranean musical traditions.
In the second half of the evening, they will be joined by Sarvin Hazin, the Iranian-Viennese kamanche virtuoso, for the debut collaboration of this newly formed trio.
Location: Sargfabrik Kulturhaus (Goldschlagstraße 169, 1140 Wien)
Accessibility: The venue is wheelchair accessible.
workshop
Sun. 16. March, 10:00 - 17:30
SOKRATIS SINOPOULOS Modal Improvisation
The workshop will be developed in two directions: modal improvisation in the folk repertoire of the Balkans and the Middle East, as well as modal improvisation connected with new modal compositions in a contemporary environment. In both cases, the workshop will focus on rhythmic improvisation.
Location: mica – music Austria Seminarraum (Stiftgasse 29, 1070 Wien)
Duration: 6 hours
Time: 10:00 – 17:30 (with pause)
Participation fee: 80 euros
Language: English
Accessibility: The workshop room is wheelchair accessible
All workshops are open to composers and musicians of all instruments.
About the artists
Sokratis Sinopoulos
Lyra/Istanbul Kemençe
“Sokratis Sinopoulos plays, I can see all the history vibrating with the ancient sounds of the strings.” Charles Lloyd
Greek musician Sokratis Sinopoulos is a contemporary master of the lyra (Istanbul kemençe) a bowed instrument that dates back to the Byzantine era. His playing is delicate and nuanced, yet highly expressive, and his proficiency on the instrument has been widely acclaimed. Sinopoulos has collaborated with numerous musicians worldwide. He is equally comfortable crossing genre boundaries into jazz and classical music as he is staying true to the folk traditions of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Born in Athens in 1974, he studied Byzantine music and classical guitar as a child and began playing the lyra in 1988 under the instruction of Ross Daly. Sinopoulos’ remarkable talent was immediately apparent, and he joined Daly’s group Labyrinthos a year later. Over the years, he became highly prolific, contributing to recordings by countless musicians worldwide.
In 1999, he was awarded the Melina Mercouri Award for young artists. In 2010, he formed the Sokratis Sinopoulos Quartet with pianist Yann Keerim, bassist Dimitris Tsekouras, and drummer Dimitris Emmanouil. The quartet’s debut album, Eight Winds, produced by Manfred Eicher for ECM Records, received excellent reviews globally.
Sokratis Sinopoulos is an assistant professor in the Department of Music Science and Art at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Sofia Labropoulou
Kanun player, composer, improviser and artistic director of Unbounded Sounds
“Sofia Labropoulou has translated the musical heritage of the European and Aegean musical tradition into a living practice.” Cecile Olshausen – SRF 2 Kultur
Sofia Labropoulou is an internationally acclaimed kanun player, composer, and improviser celebrated for her groundbreaking approach to the instrument.
By blending Eastern Mediterranean folk music, Ottoman classical traditions, Western medieval, contemporary, and experimental music, she creates a sound that is both deeply personal and globally resonant.
Classically trained in piano and percussion, Sofia discovered her passion for the kanun as a teenager and later moved to Istanbul to study Ottoman music in depth. Over the years, she has pushed the boundaries of the kanun, taking the instrument into entirely new territories, far beyond its traditional frameworks. Her innovative techniques and experimental compositions have redefined its role in contemporary music, establishing her as a pioneer in the field.
Sofia has collaborated with wonderful artists across genres, performing on prestigious stages worldwide and leading masterclasses in kanun and Greek folk music. Her acclaimed solo album Sisyphus (Odradek Records, 2020) showcased her unique ability to intertwine tradition and innovation, while her upcoming album Spiral continues to explore new sonic possibilities and brings the kanun out of its sonic limits.
As the founder and artistic creator of Unbounded Sounds, Sofia brings her vision of cross-cultural collaboration and artistic dialogue to life. The festival exemplifies her belief in the transformative power of music to connect people and traditions while pushing the limits of artistic expression.
Based in Vienna, Sofia Labropoulou continues to compose, perform, and inspire new generations of musicians with her revolutionary approach to the kanun and her dedication to reshaping the musical landscape.
Sarvin Hazin
Kamanche
“Her connection to traditional music serves as both an inspiration for creating authentic sounds and a commitment to continually reinventing and reinterpreting musical traditions.”
Classically trained violinist and chamber musician Sarvin Hazin bridges multiple musical worlds, seamlessly blending her deep connection to Iranian and Kurdish musical traditions with her active participation in the European jazz scene. For Sarvin, traditional music serves as both an inspiration for personal and authentic expression and a continual source of reinvention and cross-cultural dialogue.
Born in Tehran in 1990, Sarvin began her musical education at a young age. She initially studied violin performance at the University of Tehran before relocating to Vienna, where she completed her studies in violin performance at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna under Rainer Küchl, graduating with distinction. She further pursued postgraduate studies in chamber music with Johannes Meissl.
Alongside her classical studies in Iran, Sarvin was captivated by the expressive potential of the kamanche, which she studied under the renowned Maestro Ardeshir Kamkar in Tehran.
Currently, Sarvin performs as a violinist with the Omen Quartet (formerly INMUAS String Quartet), specializing in contemporary classical music inspired by diverse folk traditions. She is also a core member of the global music/jazz ensemble Kurdophone, where she contributes both as a performer and composer. Additionally, she is part of the innovative Terrea Trio (violin, cello, and 31-tone microtonal keyboard).
In addition to her solo and ensemble work, Sarvin has performed with prestigious orchestras such as the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Tonkünstler Orchestra. She is also actively engaged in music theater and educational music projects, creating impactful experiences for children and young audiences.