‘Heart’ of Corfu beats on 5th Avenue with sounds of ‘Spyros Samaras’ Philharmonic Band
NEW YORK. Deep emotion among the Greek diaspora marking 250 years since the birth of Ioannis Capodistrias – Corfu’s associations and musicians were honoured by the Regional Authority.
A historic moment for Corfiot culture and Hellenism worldwide is unfolding these days in New York City, as the heart of the Ionian beats strongly on the other side of the Atlantic. The Korakiana ‘Spyros Samaras’ Philharmonic Band, invited by the Pan-Corfiot Association of America, brings the pulse of Corfu to the heart of the global Greek diaspora, honouring the landmark 250th anniversary of the birth of Greece’s first Governor, Ioannis Capodistrias.
Meanwhile, this year’s celebrations carry the special weight of marking 200 years since the heroic Exodus of Messolonghi, linking historical memory with the pulse of the diaspora.
Under the experienced direction of its conductor, Konstantinos Zervopoulos, the Philharmonic Band’s 100 musicians have delivered moments of national pride, beginning on Thursday with the appearance of the Evzones of the Presidential Guard at the Greek Federation of Societies in Astoria.
The events continued with particular splendour on Friday, April 24, starting with a doxology service at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero, a site-symbol of spiritual uplift.
Afterwards, the Greek blue-and-white flag and the historic American ‘Betsy Ross’ flag were raised over Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan. The ceremony, held in the heart of Wall Street, was marked by the imposing presence of the Evzones, the melodies of the Korakiana Philharmonic Band, as well as traditional performances by the FILPA Larissa Dance Group and the Dance Ensemble of the Municipality of Messolonghi Dance Group.
The event was honoured by the presence of high-ranking guests from the homeland, underscoring the unbreakable ties with the diaspora. Among them were the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, accompanied by Members of Parliament Thanasis Papathanasis and Georgios Gavrilos; the Governor of Mount Athos, Alkiviadis Stefanis; the Regional Governors Nektarios Farmakis (Western Greece) and Yiannis Trepeklis (Ionian Islands); as well as the Mayor of the Sacred City of Messolonghi, Spyros Diamantopoulos.
On Saturday, April 25, the Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands, Yiannis Trepeklis, in a symbolic ceremony, honoured the representatives of the four associations—the Pankerkyraikos, Erikousa, Mathraki, and Othoni societies—as well as the leadership of the Korakiana Philharmonic Band, recognising their contribution to preserving tradition. Everything is now set for the grand culmination on Sunday, April 26.
The four Corfiot communities will parade together with the ‘Spyros Samaras’ Philharmonic Band on Fifth Avenue, in the largest parade of the Greek diaspora, filling Manhattan with the sounds and colours of Corfu.
PHOTOS–VIDEO: SOURCE
Consulate General of Greece in New York
Mathraki Association of New York
Pankerkyraikos Association
ELENI KORONAKI
