Kapsetaki duo

The twin sisters Marianna and Stephanie Kapsetaki (Greek: Μαριάννα and Στεφανία Καψετάκη; born 14 April 1991 in Heraklion, Crete) are Greek/British concert pianists and scientists.

Music

Their musical studies began at 9 years old. They studied at the Minoan Conservatory of Music in Heraklion where they received the Diploma in Theory of Music, Diploma of Piano Performance with highest honours, distinction and 1st prize at the age of 17 with teachers Kallia Anastasaki and Dimitris Toufexis and at the Music School of Heraklion where they graduated with the highest grades. They have been taught by Yonty Solomon, Martino Tirimo, Radoslav Kvapil, Philip Fowke, Philippe Cassard, Bernard Roberts, Eugen Indjic, Peter Donohοe, Vladimir Tropp, Graham Caskie, Joanna MacGregor, Bryce Morrison, Anton Kuerti and are currently studying in London with Christopher Elton.

Performances

They perform solo, four hands and two piano recitals at major venues and international music festivals in Europe, appearing with major ensembles including the Pancretan Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Heraklion Music School Orchestra and the Athens City Symphony Orchestra. They have represented Crete on commemorative occasions and enjoy regular invitations from radio and television where their recordings are played. Their appearances include recitals at: Cheltenham Town Hall, St George's (Bristol), Hellenic Cultural Centre (London), Sir Edward Elgar Museum, the Bristol, Chelmsford and Gloucester Cathedrals, Jacqueline du Pré Music Building (Oxford), Parnassos Hall (Athens), Bellonio Cultural Centre (Santorini), Municipality Theatre of Larnaka, Basilica of St Mark (Crete) and 2nd Aegean Arts International Festival (Crete).

Repertoire

Their repertoire ranges from baroque and classical composers of the 18th century to the masters of the 20th onwards for solo, 4 hands, 2 pianos and concertos. They are honoured to be the muses for pieces specifically written for and dedicated to them by several distinguished Greek composers.

CD recordings

  • 'Classic Adventure-Live in UK' (2015)
  • 'Romantic Collection' (2012)

Awards

  • First Prize in the National Arts Council of Greece Competition (solo category)
  • First Prize in the 4th Maria Cherogiorgou-Sigara National Piano Competition at the Megaron Mousikis Athens (solo category)
  • First Prize in the 1st Larissa Conservatory National piano Competition (solo category)
  • First Prize in the 1st Chopin Interpretation Competition Singelaki Conservatory Athens (solo category)
  • Third Prize at the 7th International Konzerteum piano competition in Athens (4-hand category)
  • Fifth Prize at the 10th International Konzerteum competition (4-hand category)
  • The 'Young Greek Soloists 2011' by the Athens City Symphony Orchestra
  • The 'Citizens of Honour' Award from the Municipality of Hersonissos
  • The ‘Jannis Tzonker’ Young Artist Award
  • The UNESCO medal

Science

Marianna has a MBBS Hons (1st) in Medicine from the University of Crete, and is at present studying a MSc in Performing Arts Medicine at University College London. Stephanie has a BSc Hons (1st) in Biology from the University of Crete and a MSc from the University of Oxford, where she is undergoing a PhD in Zoology as a student of New College, Oxford.

Awards and Publications

  • The Parisianou S.A. award
  • Kapsetaki SE, Tzelepis I, Avgousti K, Livadaras I, Garantonakis N, Varikou K, Apidianakis Y., 2014. Nature Communications. ''The bacterial metabolite 2-aminoacetophenone promotes association of pathogenic bacteria with flies".
  • Tzelepis I, Kapsetaki SE, Panayidou S, Apidianakis Y., 2013. Current Opinion in Pharmacology. "Drosophila melanogaster: a first step and a stepping-stone to anti-infectives"

Scholarships

  • Minoan Conservatory of Music Heraklion (full scholarships)
  • Greek State Foundation(for 4 consistent years)
  • Lillian Voudouri Foundation
  • Eleni Schillizi Foundation
  • Bodossakis Foundation
  • Leventis Foundation
  • Alexander Onassis Foundation