Nicolaou Marios
Marios Nicolaou was born in Limassol - Cyprus in 1974. He studied percussion at the Athens Conservatory (class of D. Marinakis) and at the Hochschule für Musik Köln with C. Caskel and C. Tarcha and graduated with “Auszeichnung”. He has also worked with P. Sadlo and R. Seegers in masterclasses and private lessons. In 2005 he took part at the International Ensemble Modern Academy (Schwaz/ Austria). Marios has been a holder of the “Alexandra Trianti” scholarship of the “Friends of music Society” (Athens). Since 2015 Marios is the principal Timpanist of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist has performed the Concertino for Timpani, Percussion and Strings by A. Panufnik, the Concerto for Percussion and small Orchestra by D. Milhaud, N. Skalkota’s “ Characteristic Piece” for Xylophone and orchestra and the Partita in C major by G. Druschetzky. He has worked with many orchestras such as the Gürzenich Orchester - Kölner Philharmoniker, the Neues Rheinisches Kammerοrchester, the Kölner Jugendorchester and has also collaborated with the most of the Greek orchestras (Athens State Orchestra, Radio Symphony Orchestra, Camerata, Orchestra of Colors). As a chamber musician Marios has worked with H. Lachenmann, P. Eötvös, F. Ollu, D. Bouliane, K. D. Roo, the Ensemble neue music Koln, the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble and the ensemble dissonArt. He took part in festivals such as the Pierre Boulez zum `75 (in Cologne Philharmonie), the Minimal Music Kassel and the Klavier Festival Ruhr. Since 2009 he is a member of the Ergon Ensemble (Athens), Lyrical Noise Ensemble, Chronos Contemporary Music Ensemble and “musician in residence” at the Avaton Contemporary Music Festival. He is also the founder and artistic director of the Cyprus Percussion Ensemble. He is currently teaching Percussion at the Arte Music Academy and at the music Lyceums of Nicosia and Limassol.
Formed in 2016, the Lyrical Noise Ensemble aims to promote and explore the various areas of contemporary music. The ensemble is formed by clarinetist George Georgiou and percussionist Marios Nicolaou; both prominent in the local contemporary music scene.
