In a heartfelt and emotional atmosphere, hundreds of community members gathered last Thursday to bid farewell to the respected songwriter Christos Ioannidis. Despite the cold and rainy weather, the Church of the Transfiguration was filled to capacity for the funeral service conducted by Bishop Evmenios.

The brief eulogy was delivered by his twin brother, Tasos Ioannidis, who traveled from Greece. Nearly everyone in the church was moved to tears as they listened to Tasos speak about his twin brother.

After the funeral service, community musicians performed Christos’ compositions and accompanied him with music and songs to his final resting place.

In his eulogy, Tasos said, among other things:

“CHRISTOS IOANNIDIS 26 October 1950 – 5 June 2024

Christos was one of eight children of the farming family of Giannis and Fani from Leptokaryes, Florina. He attended the village primary school and later the Boys’ Gymnasium/Lyceum of Florina. After high school, he went to Athens to study cinematography, but his studies were interrupted by military service. At the same time, he began guitar lessons and started writing his first songs.

In 1972, Christos emigrated to Australia, joining his parents and siblings, Vasiliki, Eleftheria, George, Panagiotis, and Tasos. He pursued his studies at the Melba Conservatorium of Music and formed a band with his twin brother, Tasos.

Christos’ contribution to the musical events of the Greek Community in Australia over the next fifty years was remarkable. He participated in concerts across Australia, festivals, and received numerous awards. He recorded original songs, composed large-scale works, and made appearances in entertainment centers, social organisations, schools, on television, and radio. He also composed music for theatrical plays and films, children’s songs, and advertising spots.

However, if someone were to weigh all these achievements against his smile, open-heartedness, humour, carefree spirit, generosity, spontaneity, and friendly disposition, the scale would balance perfectly. His musical creations reflected his character. Every melody and lyric embodied who he was.

For Christos, Greece and Australia were two sides of a coin. He cherished both countries deeply. Ultimately, his body belongs to Australia, but his soul travels in the azure skies above Greece.

Safe travels, joyful child of the Greek Community.”

MUSICAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF CHRISTOS IOANNIDIS

• Studied music at the Melba Conservatorium in Melbourne.
• Began performances at the Fanari Tavern on Russell Street, City.
• Held “New Wave” music nights at La Mama Theatre, Carlton, with his brother Tasos.
• Performed concerts across Australia with his brother Tasos and their band.
• Won first prize at the Melbourne Greek Festival.
• Christos and Tasos were the first artists to sing on SBS (then Ethnic Television) with their guitars.

• Held a concert at Melbourne Town Hall featuring his work “Eleftheroi Poliorkimenoi” set to the poetry of Dionysios Solomos, accompanied by the Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Participated in the Australia Day celebrations at Melbourne Town Hall with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
• Composed music for the documentary “Song for Melbourne” and the ABC series “ANDRA”.
• Presented his work “Massa Confusa” with the orchestra of violinist and conductor Spyros Rantos.
• Presented his work “Symphonia Polyethnique” at the Festival of All Nations at Dallas Brooks Hall.
• Composed music for various children’s performances, including the musical “Gods of Olympus”.

• Released the children’s song album “Ti Oraia Tha ‘tane” in collaboration with the Victorian Department of Education.
• Recorded the album “Eimai Leftheros” with Haroula Alexiou’s orchestra.
• Composed music for Paul Cox’s film “Kostas”.
• Composed music for various theatrical performances, including Aristophanes’ “Ekklesiazusae” and Euripides’ “Iphigenia in Aulis”.
• Participated in numerous community and Australian musical events.
• Recorded and released many personal albums with his songs.