Biography
Antonis Martsakis is a Greek musician and singer born in Athens in 1979, with family roots in Charchaliana, Kissamos (Chania, Crete). He grew up immersed in the Cretan musical tradition, influenced from an early age by his father and grandfather. As a child, he began learning Cretan dance in Piraeus at around 6 years old and soon after started violin lessons under teachers such as Kostis Pachakis and Michalis Kounelis, later continuing his training with established traditional musicians.
He went on to teach violin at the Venizeleio Conservatory in Chania until 2011, and in 2012 established a music school in Chania focused on preserving and teaching traditional Cretan music. He is skilled in several traditional instruments, including violin, mandolin, askomandoura, and laouto, and has frequently collaborated with laouto player Nikos Marentakis.
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His work includes a strong focus on rizitika songs and the documentation of Cretan musical and dance heritage. He has released recordings through Seistron Musical Publications and has contributed to projects associated with figures like Domna Samiou. Since settling in Crete in 2005, he has worked actively as a performer, composer, and educator, helping promote Cretan music both in Greece and internationally.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.