Sofia Gioldasi

Sofia Gioldasi is a choir conductor, musicologist and music educator, based in Thessaloniki, Greece. She is the founder, conductor and artistic director of the Voci Contra Tempo - Female Vocal Ensemble. She is also the conductor of the Thessaloniki “Friends of Music Society” Youth & Children’s Choirs. She frequently collaborates with the prestigious Greek Radio Choir on a variety of projects, performing in all the main venues in Greece, such as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

Since its founding in 2017, Voci Contra Tempo have had a strong impact on the Greek and international choral music scene. In 2021 they were invited to perform at the prestigious International “Guido d’Arezzo” Choral Festival in Italy (69thedition). In 2024 they performed at the opening ceremony of the International Choral Festival of Istanbul, Türkiye. They have frequently collaborated with the International Choral Festival of Preveza as a laboratory choir for Conducting Masterclasses under the leadership of Ambrož Čopi, Gary Graden, Vytautas Miškinis, Javier Busto and others. In 2022 VCT were funded by the Greek Ministry of Culture to create “Project Patrida”, a multidimensional educational and artistic project to enhance the creation of new Greek choral music. 8 new choral works were especially written for VCT and premiered during Homelands Festival, organized by Choralspace, at the Kammermusiksaal of the Berliner Philharmoniker (2023). 
Sofia is regularly invited to lead choral workshops in Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Türkiye, Serbia, Kosovo, Israel, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands. She is a much sought-after jury member, lecturer and masterclass leader, collaborating with ECA, IFCM, Feniarco, Accademia Corale Italiana, Choralspace, Greek National Opera, Ministry of Culture of Cyprus, Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, Thessaloniki Megaron Concert Hall, Olympus Festival and other independent organizations and festivals around the world.  
During her time as conductor of the Nieuw Vocaal Amsterdam (2011-2015), Sofia performed at the greatest halls in the Netherlands (Concertgebouw, Muziekgebouw, Dutch National Opera & Ballet) and also won Silver prize at the Cantemus International choir competition in Hungary.  In 2013 she had the honour to perform at the inauguration of the Dutch King Willem-Alexander and record for Deutsche Grammophon. In 2011, she worked as a music teacher at the Nationale Koren (NL), under the direction of Wilma ten Wolde, preparing the choirs for great productions, such as the 3rd and 8th Symphony of Mahler (concerts with Berliner Philharmoniker/Sir Simon Rattle and Concertgebouw Orchestra/Mariss Jansons, respectively).
Sofia studied Choral Conducting (BA & MA) at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Jos Vermunt and Jos van Veldhoven, specializing in the intertwinement of choral singing, body movement & stage action. During her Master studies she received individual coaching from Basilio Astulez (Bilbao, Spain) and Andrew Nethsingha (Cambridge, UK). She also has a degree in Musicology/Music Education with distinction from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.