Newsroom
A large-scale musical project bringing together hundreds of guitarists from across Cyprus is seeking to establish itself as a distinctive cultural representative of the island abroad.
The Cyprus Guitar Orchestra currently brings together hundreds of musicians and more than 300 classical guitars. According to the available information, it is the largest organised classical guitar orchestra in the world.
The project began in 2017 following an initiative by Antonis Koizas, a professor in the Department of Music at the University of Nicosia. What started as an idea has since developed into a nationwide ensemble involving guitarists from Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Famagusta and Paphos.
The orchestra brings players of different ages together in large performances, giving the classical guitar a scale more commonly associated with conventional orchestral instruments. Hundreds of guitarists performing together produce a distinctive and layered sound, while allowing musicians to participate in large artistic productions alongside established Cypriot and international performers.
Education and participation are central to the project. The orchestra welcomes children, young people and adults from different parts of Cyprus, creating opportunities for musicians to perform collectively and gain experience through major productions.
Another part of its work is the promotion of music created in Cyprus. The orchestra presents compositions by Cypriot composers and develops new arrangements specifically for a large guitar ensemble.
Its organisers see the project as evidence of Cyprus's ability to create distinctive cultural initiatives on a significant scale. They also envision performances at international festivals, concert halls and cultural events, where the sight and sound of hundreds of guitarists performing together could become closely associated with the country.
The orchestra plans to continue expanding its activities, establish new artistic partnerships and stage productions both in Cyprus and overseas.
Its long-term ambition is to establish the Cyprus Guitar Orchestra as a prominent cultural ambassador for the country internationally, using music to present a distinctive aspect of Cyprus to audiences abroad.
