Born in Heraklion, Crete in 1970, Alexios took his first guitar lesson at the age of 10 from his father Nikolaos following a long family tradition in the guitar.

The period 1990 - 1994, he continued and completed his studies with Evangelos Assimakopoulos at the "Philippos Nakas" Consevatory in Athens, obtaining his Guitar Soloist Diploma in 1994 with Honours.

In 1997 he won an entrance scholarship to attend Post Graduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music (London) with M. Lewin, T. Walker and J.Mills.

Completing his studies in 1998 he obtained the Guitar Teacherâs Diploma ( L.R.A.M.) as well as the Recital Diploma of the Royal Academy of Music (Dip.R.A.M.) which is the Academy's highest accolade, and the "John Booth" Prize, awarded by the Principal of the Academy. He took masterclasses with Oscar Ghiglia, Manuel Barrueco, David Russel, David Starobin, Hubert Kappel , Gordon Crosskey and Roland Dyens.

He was a prize winner in the following guitar competitions :

• 1st Prize at the "JULIAN BREAM" International Guitar Competition (London, England 1998)
• 3nd Prize at the "Ruggero Chiesa-Citta di Camogli" International Guitar Competition (Camogli, Italy 1998)
• 3rd Prize at the "Citta di Mottola" International Guitar Competition (Mottola, Italy 1998)
• 2nd Prize at the "Philippos Nakas" International Guitar Competition (Athens, Greece 1997)
• 2nd Prize at the IV Corfu International Guitar Festival Competition (Corfu, Greece 1997)
• 2nd Prize at the "Philippos Nakas" Panhellenic Guitar Competition (Athens, Greece 1994)

Alexis Froudarakis performs regularly, giving recitals("Nakas - Athens Concert Series) and touring in Festivals throughout Greece ( Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno, Patras, Symi, Corfu , Karpathos etc.) and abroad including the 12th International Composers Festival in London (playing works of the Italian composer Franco Donatoni ) and the 1998 Bolivar Hall Guitar Festival (playing Astro Piazzollaâs Double Concerto for Guitar & Bandoneon and Strings).

Other performances with orchestra include : Rodrigo's CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ ( Athens Symphony Orchestra - Eleftherios Kalkanis , conductor) and Giuliani's PRIMO CONCERTO PER CHITARRA E ARCHI OP.30 ( KAMERATA String orchestra of the ATHENS CONCERT HALL - Alexander Myrat , conductor) He has also recorded for the National Greek Radio and Television. Alexis plays on a hand-made guitar built by the Australian constructor Greg Smallman.CONTACT DETAILS :