The Eirini Ensemble

In a world marked by war, pandemic, and uncertainty the Eirini Ensemble brings to the concert stage songs of hope, struggle and survival from modern Greece. The name Eirini (Ειρήνη) means "Peace" in Greek language and Ichoyennisi (Ηχογέννηση) suggests rebirth with echoes of Spring. This perfectly describes our desire to breathe new life into the Greek musical classics of Mikis Theodorakis, Manis Hatzidakis and other composers of this golden age of Greek music.

The Ensemble

Theodora Volti ~ Voice
Jackie Luke ~ Sandouri, Voice
Greg Wilson ~ Harp, Accordion
Rita Woolhouse ~ Cello
Amanda Pickering ~ Violin, Voice
Sandy Gibbney ~ Violin, Viola
Iska Sampson ~ Violin, Viola
Andrew Back ~ Piano, Mandola
Jon Jones ~ Percussion

The
EIRINI ENSEMBLE

Read on to find out more about our concerts and collaborations ...

In 2015 George Ellis conducted the first concert of Axion Esti ever to be performed in Australia to commemorate the 90th birthday of Mikis Theodorakis. In 2024 the work was again performed with sold-out concerts featuring international solosist Dimistris Basis in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Jackie Luke had the immense honour of playing the sandouri part for each perfromance.

Theodora Volti sings Athina by Manos Hatzidakis at the highly successful Eirini Ensemble concert at Smith's Alternative, October 2023.
The song tells of the many beautiful places in the ancient city of Athens. ‘In the garden of the sky I will enter to choose laurels, myrtle and amaranth and make a wreath for you. Athena!'

Read a review of the concert Smiths' Alternative - October 2023
“I just want to say how much I enjoyed your recent night of Greek music at Smiths. Theodora’s solos, the duets with Jackie, and the three-part harmonies with Amanda, were all absolutely beautiful. You have an ideal combination of instruments, with the very bright tones from Jackie’s sandouri, and the great melodies woven in by Rita’s cello and Greg on the harp, then the piano, and the violins, and the drum, all working beautifully well together.” Margaret Fisher 2023

The band performed for the first time as Ichoyennisi at the High Court of Australia 10 March 2019 and went on to do a second concert at the Canberra Irish Club.

Listen to the Eirini Ensemble sing the Theodorakis classic Margarita Margiapoula.

Images from the High Court of Australia 10 March 2019 - no video due to restrictions.