Tuesday night at the Language and Culture school of the Greek Community of Melbourne in Bentleigh was reportedly a magical affair.
One full of the magic of a beloved voice from a beloved creator, who’s been a constant companion to us for years with her songs, Mrs Alkistis Protopsalti.
Mrs Protopsaltis is currently in Melbourne, currently preparing for her big concert on Saturday at the Antipodes Festival. It was her wish to visit a Greek school during her stay in our city and talk to children and teachers.
As it so happens, a meeting was arranged and on Tuesday night the performer visited the GCM’s Language and Culture school in Bentleigh.
Attendees say her presence brought with it a piece of Greece. Unique and beloved. Just like the performer herself.
Plainly and with warmth, she shared with students memories from her own childhood and experiences from her concerts and travels around the world.
And her audience apparently didn’t miss the opportunity presented to them. In the role of young journalists, students asked questions to they might get to know her better and learn more about the details of her life and career.
With kindness and patience she listened and answered all their questions, since, as she said she didn’t want to leave any child unsatisfied. She spoke to them about her love for music and the Greek language, the value of education, the importance of sticking to goals and the driving force that dreams are in our lives.
One of the surprises the children had in store for her was the song “Krina tou yalou” which they sang to honour her. She reciprocated by singing two of her most famous songs with them, “Ola afta pou fovame” and “To hirokrotima”.
An educator called it “a favorite moment for all of us and the experience of a lifetime for our students.”
And they conveyed their appreciation to the artist.
“Mrs Protopsaltis, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this meeting. And we look forward to hearing you again at your big concert on Saturday night. We will all be there!”
