Copyright 2026 © Michael Paouris
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Copyright 2026 © Michael Paouris
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At a family-run tavern in Moschato. Fifty-year-old patrons come up to congratulate him, and even entire families go watch this little virtuoso who is already a part of the Athenian nightlife. He is for all intents and purposes, the tavern’s mascot.
His teacher Manolis Michalakis introduces him to composer Giorgos Katsaros. They begin a collaboration for a limited number of appearances and concerts. At the same time, he appears in "Stavros tou Notou" and in "Hammam" with Nikos Danikas’ team. During this time, he participates in many music competitions in technique and performance, while receiving first place in the Panhellenic Awards.
Thanasis Polykandriotis singles him out and starts a collaboration with the then-teenager Michael Paouris, that will last 8 years, with them giving concerts throughout Greece.
Michael Paouris participates in Mikis Theodorakis’ play at Park Theatre, while 2 years later he has the honor of performing the famous composer’s music at the Concert Hall with the Mikis Theodorakis Symphony Orchestra.
A special moment for Michael was his participation in Stavros Xarchakos’ Zeibekiko alongside dozens of bouzoukis and drums, performed at the Olympic Stadium during the first minutes of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, on August 13, 2004, in Athens.
At the age of 18, he starts teaching in order to pass on his passion for Bouzouki, wanting to utilize the valuable knowledge he has collected from personal research to lay the proper foundations in matters of technique and performance excellence. Five years later, in 2010, an official collaboration with the Fakana Art Conservatory begins.
At the age of 24, he performs live on stage in Greece alongside the internationally recognized guitarist, receiving rave reviews from the press and the public. Later this year, they make their first joint appearance in France. A year later they appear together for the third time, accompanied by Gonzalo Rubalcaba in Athens. Al Di Meola has characteristically said that Michael Paouris is "the fastest bouzouki player on planet Earth".
In the same year, he releases his first single, "Enarxis", and his first book, "My notes".
In 2012, he releases his second Bouzouki album, with Mimis Plessas playing the piano and Panos Mouzourakis performing the vocals, while Michael Paouris performs the Bouzouki and Electric Guitar.
He also appears in the CNBC Africa documentary: "Greece, an economic Odyssey", as one the faces of Greece’s bright future.
In 2013, he releases his first guitar album, while he begins collaborations with big names of the Greek and international music scene such as the Greek singer Eleni Dimou, the Turkish singer Fide Köksal and others.
1st International Award in Classical Music.
1st International Award in Classical Music.
1st International Award in Classical Music.
Michael Paouris is the first Bouzouki soloist to give a speech at the international TEDx of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. The central theme was "Knowledge" and the title of the speech "Evolution: A word I was never afraid of"
A Greek-American co-produced documentary that brings to light the work and musical achievements of Michael Paouris from 2011 to 2021.
Michael Paouris was invited to Damascus by the Greek Ambassador Mr. Nikolaos Protonotarios for two major concerts at the Opera House, which was filled with both Syrian and Greek citizens. Michael Paouris' composition "Damascus" was embraced by the people of Syria, and the concert was broadcast live on national television.
The following day, the Syrian University of Arts awarded Michalis Paouris for his contribution to music.
In March 2024, the legendary guitarist Al Di Meola invited Michalis Paouris to join him on a tour across Europe. This time, however, Paouris participated as a soloist on the acoustic guitar.
The last time the bouzouki appeared on ERT’s Third Programme was in 1979, when Manos Hadjidakis performed on the piano with Giorgos Zampetas as his guest.
Since then, this has happened again when the acclaimed pianist Christos Papageorgiou invited Michael Paouris to perform with him at the same piano.
The difference is that this broadcast was a tribute to the musical achievements of Michael Paouris, highlighting his classical and jazz compositions, performed live for the listeners.
A broadcast that was widely discussed among musicians and audiences alike.
On December 5 and 19, he appeared in Athens after 13 years at the Athens Concert Hall, presenting his works that have been touring internationally since 2011.
The audience included people from many European countries, as well as numerous Greeks who deeply appreciate him and his work.
ICHOFOS (pdf)
The poet Dionysios Christoforatos, awarded by the Academy of Athens, dedicates “ICHOFOS” to Michael Paouris.
Following an invitation by Spyros Polymeris and Kostas Laskaratos, Michael Paouris wrote the article “The Need for Radiance”, with the aim of its inclusion in the 5th issue of the Cultural Notebooks published by Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences.
An institution in which, over the years, major figures from Letters, the Arts, and the Sciences have consistently participated.
Read the article:
"The Need of Radiance"
On Thursday, December 18, 2025, Michael Paouris received the "Oikothen Award" (Οἴκοθεν) from the Academy of Athens in recognition of his career and body of work, in the presence of the former President of the Hellenic Republic and other distinguished figures.
This award marks a moment of historic significance for the entire music community, and especially for the Bouzouki and the modern Acoustic guitar, as it is officially the first time that a composer and soloist has been honored with these instruments as his primary artistic means of expression.
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Copyright 2026 © Michael Paouris
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Copyright 2026 © Michael Paouris
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