Πέμπτη 10 Σεπτεμβρίου 2026

Panagiotis Karousos Honored with Best Classical Recording at the Toronto Radio Acropolis Awards

TORONTO, CANADA — In a celebration of cultural achievement and artistic excellence within the Greek-Canadian diaspora, acclaimed classical composer Panagiotis Karousos was officially presented with the prestigious Best Classical Recording award for the 2002/2003 broadcasting season. The accolade recognizes his critically acclaimed album, Grece Pays d'Amour (Greece, Land of Love).

The annual awards ceremony was organized and hosted by Radio Acropolis International, a prominent Greek-language community service broadcasting over an SCMO subcarrier channel in Toronto. The listener-voted initiative highlights the cultural and artistic contributions of diaspora creators who bridge Hellenic heritage with Canadian classical music.

A Gathering of Dignitaries and Community Leaders

The commemorative event brought together distinguished figures from diplomacy, science, and media to honor the composer's milestone:

Official Diplomatic Presenters: The trophy presentation featured the Consul General of Greece in Toronto, Dimitris Azemopoulos, offering official institutional backing from the Greek government. The physical award was presented alongside John (Ioannis) Melas, the founder, director, and primary broadcaster of Radio Acropolis International.
Scientific and Diaspora Leaders: Joining the celebration were prominent community pillars, including distinguished nuclear physicist Dr. Costas Pappas (then serving as a leading voice in Canada’s nuclear science sector and later stepping up as President of the Canadian Hellenic Congress) accompanied by his wife, Zeta Pappas, alongside members of the local delegation.

A Lasting Cultural Legacy

The recognition of Grece Pays d'Amour underscores Karousos’s deep-rooted ties to the Canadian orchestral scene. Beyond this award-winning album, his Canadian legacy includes a monumental 3-CD collaboration with the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Toronto, Sotirios, titled Greek Orthodox Catechism, as well as the Toronto staging of his grand opera Alexander the Great by the University of Toronto's Sneak Peek Symphony Orchestra under the direction of maestro Victor Cheng.

This historic award solidifies Karousos’s position as a vital cultural ambassador, seamlessly weaving the grandeur of classical composition into the rich tapestry of the Greek-Canadian community.