[Cyprus Times] The new building of the Paphos Municipal Philharmonic was inaugurated

The new building of the Pafos Municipality Philharmonic Orchestra, which was renovated and equipped by the Pafos Municipality on Karnavalou Street, perpendicular to Makarios pedestrian street, in the heart of the traditional shopping centre of the city, was inaugurated today by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Prodromos Prodromou.

In his speech at the inauguration, Prodromou said that such projects related to culture are also a primary objective of the Government, which supports local government in its goals for development and prosperity by highlighting and utilizing its intellectual activity to the maximum extent possible.

t№6 This, he noted, is a remarkable initiative and action of the Municipality, which aims to

support various cultural institutions of the communityas well as the general promotion of cultural and social aspects of the place. Reconstructed with respect to the local architecture and equipped with modern facilities, it is considered, he continued, a valuable asset located in the heart of the city and is one of the buildings that have been reconstructed as part of the major improvements of recent years in the historic and commercial centre of Pafos.t№10 Mr. Prodromou said that along with other iconic cultural venues in Paphos, such as the renovated Attikon, the Markideion Municipal Theatre and Ibrahim's Hani, the Paphos Municipal Philharmonic can now be considered by the municipality as

one of the showcase projects of the new era of the city.

He added that the renovation of the building and its allocation to the Philharmonic allows for further and more unhindered preparation and improvement of its members.t№14 It is noted thatthe Paphos Philharmonic Orchestra was created by Maestro Dimitris Evangelou. He was succeeded by Zacharias Evangelou,

who led the Pafos Municipality Philharmonic Orchestra on an upward course. With the massive participation of

veteran musicians of the Philharmonic and the support provided by the Paphos Municipality, the Paphos Philharmonic has established itself in the hearts of the people, who embrace its every effort in Cyprus and abroad. This admittedly rapid development led to the need to upgrade the Pafos Philharmonic Orchestra, and so in March 2019, the association was established under the name "Pafos Philharmonic Orchestra".t№20 Today's inauguration, said the Minister of Education, makes us really happy, noting that the pioneers, the Mayor, the Municipality, Round Table 7 Paphos, the conductors, the board of directors and the musicians of the Philharmonic Orchestra and all those who contributed to the creation of this House, completed the goal by "trumpeting" a message of solidarity and cooperation. The main supporter, of course, in all this,the people of Paphos, who welcome and support every action of the Philharmonic,as he said. Finally, Mr Prodromou hoped that this new cultural centre would become the spiritual home for many citizens of Paphos, as well as a gathering place and spiritual refuge, especially for young people, in order to further strengthen relations for the benefit of the community.t№24 In his greeting,

Pafos Mayor Faidona Faidonos

said that with the renovation of the building and its concession to the Philharmonic, the Pafos Municipalityis finally and effectively solving a chronic problem, now enabling the Philharmonic to developand create its own permanent facilities. The project we are inaugurating today, he said, is not big, neither in size nor in cost. But it is important for the Municipality and the city, because it adds a shining mosaic to the mosaic of culture, for which small projects and small actions have great importance and impact.

t№30 The

35-year course and action of the Philharmonicof the Municipality of Pafos is interesting and instructive in various respects, Mr. Faidonos, noting that a small, non-professional musical group started its course in the educational and cultural events of a small town without its own home and the required musical instruments.The soul of the whole effort, he continued, was the musician, teacher in secondary education, Dimitris Evangelou, who took on his shoulders as conductor the main burden for the establishment of the group. In the person of the late Andreas Ataliotis, the first elected Mayor of the city in the period of Independence, he found a warm supporter and protector. Thus, in 1992, the official - institutional relationship of the scheme with the Municipality of Paphos began, which has continued since then until today. In 2012, after 30 years of directing the ensemble, Dimitris Evangelou handed over the baton of the Philharmonic to his son Zacharias Evangelou, who proves to be a worthy continuator of a heavy tradition, he added.It registers and moves, he stressed, "in the strategic objective that the Municipality has been promoting with methodicalness, determination and evident efficiency in recent years for the upgrading and revitalization of the traditional commercial centre of the city, and in particular it is part of the effort to create in the wider area surrounding us a cluster of cultural infrastructure projects, consisting of small thematic museums and exhibition spaces".

t№40 As part of the event, the Municipality of Pafos presented

an honorary plaque to Dimitris Evangelou.Mr. Evangelou thanked the Mayor of Pafos and the members of the Municipal Council as well as the cultural service of the Municipality for always being there for them. The programme of the event concluded with a concert by the Cyprus Police and Paphos Municipality Philharmonic Orchestras.t№44 Source: CNA

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