The artist
Performance & imagination.
Solo recitals, chamber music, and contemporary creation.
Chris Yonas is a Greek-Australian pianist, composer, and cultural entrepreneur based. A recipient of the Academy of Athens’ “Eleni Tim. Mykoniou” Artistic Award for piano performance, his work spans classical performance, contemporary composition, and interdisciplinary artistic practice.
Chris Yonas is a distinguished Greek-Australian pianist and composer, known for his high-level pianistic performances and unique artistic identity. He began his studies at the "Musical Horizons" Conservatory, where he earned his Soloist Diploma with High Distinction and First Prize in 2016 studying with professor Betty Gaitanou-Barzouka.
His international education includes studies at the University of Melbourne in Australia, the Mozarteum University in Austria, and Stanford University in the USA, where he deepened his knowledge in interdisciplinary studies across philosophy and mathematics.
He is a graduate of the Hellenic-American Educational Foundation with an International Baccalaureate Diploma and is holder of a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) and a Bachelor in Music Performance degrees from Deree – The American College of Greece (ACG) where he studied under the guidance of the internationally acclaimed pianist, Dimitri Toufexis. During his studies at Deree - ACG, he graduated summa cum laude and was awarded the Deree Hood Award, as well as the Outstanding Graduate Award (Music), the Artistic Achievement Award, and the International Honors Award for his artistic achievements and interdisciplinary academic excellence.
His international education includes studies at the University of Melbourne in Australia, the Mozarteum University in Austria, and Stanford University in the USA, where he deepened his knowledge in interdisciplinary studies across philosophy and mathematics.
As a soloist, he has received distinctions in numerous national and international music competitions and has appeared on prestigious stages and cultural venues in Greece and abroad, including the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron), the “Parnassos” Literary Society, the Alternative Stage of the Greek National Opera, the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, the Mozarteum University in Austria, the Victoria College of the Arts in Melbourne, Branner Hall in San Francisco, and Vårdklockan Church on the island of Gotland, Sweden.
In performance
Selected performances
Tsitsani Museum · Trikala
Chris Yonas - La Campanella · 28 December 2025
Recital at the Alternative Stage
Greek National Opera · SNFCC
Rachmaninov · Sonata No. 2 I
Op. 36 · I. Allegro agitato
Rachmaninov · Sonata No. 2 II
Op. 36 · II. Non allegro – Lento
Claude Debussy, "Feus d'artifice" – from Préludes No. XII, Livre II (1913)
Performance by Chris Yonas · YouTube
S. Rachmaninoff, Prelude Op. 32 No. 12 (1910)
Performance by Chris Yonas · YouTube
A. Scriabin, Prelude & Nocturne for the left hand, Op. 9 (1894)
Performance by Chris Yonas · YouTube
Chopin Ballade No. 4 Op. 52 in F minor (1842)
Performance by Chris Yonas · YouTube
A. Scriabin Op. 2 No. 1 - Choremis Hall
Performance by Chris Yonas · YouTube
Scriabin Etude Op. 8 No. 12 (1894) - Choremis Hall
Performance by Chris Yonas · YouTube
L. Godowsky, Elegy for the left hand alone (1929)
Performance by Chris Yonas · YouTube
Programmes
Music with a point of view.
Upcoming concerts
Distant Echoes
Athens Megaron - Lilian Voudouri Music Hall · Athens, Greece
Distant Echoes
Venue to be confirmed · Athens, Greece
Past performances
Timbres of Love
Music Library, Friends of Music · Athens Concert Hall · Athens, Greece
Transcendence II
Deree – The American College of Greece · Athens, Greece
Transcendence I
Deree – The American College of Greece · Athens, Greece
Reveries · Tsitsanis Museum
Tsitsanis Museum · Trikala, Greece
Rays of Love
Church of St George Karytsis · Athens, Greece
Triptych
Mersinias–Psimitis Residence · Tsagkarada, Pelion, Greece
Entelecheia: Essence Manifested
Deree – The American College of Greece · 7th Level Auditorium · Athens, Greece
Reveries · Parnassos
Parnassos Literary Society Concert Hall · Athens, Greece
Reveries · Athens College
Choremis Theatre · Athens College · Athens, Greece
Reveries · Piano City Athens
Deree – The American College of Greece · 7th Level Auditorium · Athens, Greece
Piandaemonium · International Piano Festival
Alternative Stage, Greek National Opera · SNFCC · Athens, Greece
Original music
Original compositions
From piano miniatures to electronic and algorithmic work, composition is another space for musical exploration.
Explore the compositionsRepertoire
A musical vocabulary.
Chris Yonas’s repertoire centres on Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Liszt and Chopin, spanning intimate miniatures, large-scale solo works and concertos.
Chris Yonas's musical journey is deeply intertwined with the works of renowned composers such as Sergei Rachmaninov, Alexander Scriabin, Franz Liszt and Frederic Chopin. These composers serve as major focal points in his repertoire, guiding his artistic exploration and shaping his musical identity. With Rachmaninov, Chris delves into the richly expressive and virtuosic world of the Russian Romantic tradition. His interpretations of Rachmaninov's compositions, including the iconic Piano Concerto No. 2 and the majestic Piano Concerto No. 3, are marked by their emotive depth and technical brilliance. Through these masterpieces, Chris showcases his ability to convey the profound emotional landscapes and lyrical melodies that define Rachmaninov's music. In particular, Chris's affinity for Rachmaninov's two piano concertos stands as a testament to his dedication to the repertoire.
In addition to Rachmaninov, Chris embraces the mystical and innovative works of Alexander Scriabin. Scriabin's compositions, characterized by their harmonic complexity and spiritual intensity, offer a unique canvas for Chris to explore sonic textures and spiritual themes. Through his performances of Scriabin's piano sonatas and etudes, Chris invites listeners on a transcendent journey, where music becomes a gateway to the realm of the sublime.
Furthermore, Chris's repertoire includes the poetic and nuanced compositions of Frédéric Chopin. Chopin's works, with their delicate phrasing and profound lyricism, hold a special place in Chris's heart especially so for Ballade No. 4.