Dimitrios Sakalis Lead Chanter of
Antrirrio Saint Nicolaos church, Professor of Greek and Byzantine music
Former President of the Association of Chanters of Patras "St. Ioannis Damaskinos"
Dimitrios Sakalis was born in Ano Sudeneika, West Municipality. Achaia in 1970. He is married to Dionysia Xanthakis and they have three children, Areti, Chrysa and Thanasis.
His engagement with Byzantine Music began at the age of 13 with the lead singer of the Metropolitan Church of the Evangelistria of Patras, the late Gerasimos Fortis. He studied with him for 5 years from where he received the Diploma of Professor of Byzantine Music in 1988 with an Excellent grade from the "Dorio" Music School where he taught. In the same year, he is closely associated with the great Protopsaltis Arhontas Hymnodos of M.t.X.E. Dimitrios Nerantzis, from whom he studied and was introduced to the chanting style.
His singing career begins a few years ago. In 1986 and at the age of 16, he was hired as a lamp-bearer at the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Patras. In 1988, he was hired as Cantor at the Assumption Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary of Patras until 1990. From 1991 until May 2017, he served as Lampadarios at the Church. of St. Dionysiou of Patras. In June of the current year, he was hired as Cantor of the I. Metropolitan Church of St. Constantine and Helen of Piraeus and at the same time as cantor in the daily Divine Liturgies on Mondays and Tuesdays in the Cathedral of St. Triados Piraeus where the "Piraeus Church" radio station broadcasts.
In 2019, together with his students, they founded the Byzantine dance PETROS O PELOPONNISIOS, which is made up of Lead Cantors and Lampadarios of the I.Metropolis of Patras
In October 2022, he decides to return to Patras and, following a proposal, he is hired as Lead Cantor at the Church of Agios Nikolaos Antirrio.
Alongside his singing ministry, he teaches the art of chanting in various conservatories in the city of Patras and the region.
- 2002-2003 in the then Municipality of Olenia.
- 2003-2004 at the "Agia Trias" Conservatory.
- 2004-2009 at the "Achaico Conservatory" of Patras.
- 2007-2009 at the "Municipal Conservatory" of Patras, from 2007 to 2017 at the School of Byzantine Music of the Holy Diocese of Patras "O Apostolos Andreas" and from 2017 until today at the "European Conservatory" of Patras. He is a member of several Byzantine choirs and has participated in several educational seminars.
Equally important is long-term activity in the trade union sector. In particular, in the two years 1998-2000, he served as Vice-President of the Association of Chanters of Patras "Saint John the Damascene". In 2001 as treasurer and member of the Federation of Chanters Associations of Greece (OM.S.I.E.) from the position of dean. In 2012, he was elected President of the Association of Chanters of Patras, a position he held until June 2016, simultaneously performing the duties of choir master.
In addition to Byzantine Music, his contribution to Municipal Traditional Music is also considered great. In 1992, he started a career in the Municipal Song with a significant development, since he quickly became more widely known through various cultural events he participated in as well as through many record works he did. He performed great Municipal musical creations and sat next to great teachers such as Yannis Constantinou, Tasia Verra, Alekos Kitsakis, Sofia Kollitiris, Giorgos Tzamaras, Thanasis Varsamas, Eugenia Verra, etc.
But his love for the Tradirional Song does not end here. In 2000, he was hired as a choirmaster in the newly established choir of the Aitoloakarnani Association in Patras "Kosmas o Aitolos", until 2003. From 2003 to 2009 he was a choirmaster and co-founder of the Music and Dance Club "Aristides Moschos". From 2009 to 2015 he directs the choir of the "Lyceum of Greek Girls of Patras", from 2015 to 2018 he is the choir director of the "Panipirotic Association" of Patras, from 2018 to 2020 he directs the choir of the Cultural Center "Agia Lavra". In the same year, together with thirty members, they founded the "Municipal Traditional Choir of Patras"
In all six choirs he has shown rich activity after giving many concerts in Patras and in the rest of the territory with complete success.
Today, as a chanter and teacher of the Divine Art, he tries with faith and dedication to transmit and save as much as possible our cultural heritage concerning the Chanting Art and the genuine Folk song.