Eleni Traganas Receives Inaugural Dino Anagnost Award

Father Anastasios Gounaris, Maestro Dino Anagnost Award Recipient Eleni Traganas, Direct Archdiocesan Choir Federation Representative Fay Pavlidis, and Cathedral Music Director Gus Chrysson

The Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York has honored acclaimed Pianist Eleni Traganas with the first Maestro Dino Anagnost Award. Ms. Traganas, who served as the Cathedral’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence during the 2012-2013 season, was formally presented with the distinction in a ceremony at the conclusion of Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 27th.

Conferring the award was Cathedral Dean Father Anastasios Gounaris, who cited his intention of making the Artist Residency Program an international Orthodox cultural treasure house of talented and gifted artists over the years. Attended by representatives of the Direct Archdiocesan District Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians, the event was followed by a festive coffee hour and the opportunity for parishioners to participate in the joyful occasion.

Internationally-acclaimed concert pianist, author and composer Eleni Traganas has amassed accolades from the international press and her varied activities have been listed in Who’s Who in America© and major biographical publications. Born in New York of Greek parents, Ms. Traganas holds degrees from The Julliard School of Music and a variety of distinctions and grants including northern Italy’s Palma D’ Oro Prize in performance and the B’nai B’rith prize in conducting.

Her deep affinity for the Romantic repertoire has led to innumerable appearances in all-Chopin and all-Russian recitals and lectures in Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Town Hall, London’s Wigmore Hall, Berlin, Athens, and many of the major music capitals of Europe, where she also performed under the aegis of the U.S. State Department.

Eleni Traganas has been the grateful recipient of generous sponsorship by enthusiastic patrons of the Arts. A dedicated and avid church musician her entire life, she currently holds the position of Music Director, Organist and Resident Composer at “Zoodohos Peghe” Hellenic Orthodox Community of the Bronx.

The Maestro Dino Anagnost Award, which honors the memory of the late conductor who served as music director of The Little Orchestra Society in New York since 1979, and Dean of Music at the Cathedral until his death in 2011, will be presented annually to each successive appointment to the Artist Residency program.