📍 Address: 8 Kalosgourou Street (Tennis Area), 49132 Corfu, Greece
📞 Phone:
+30 26610 21850
📘 Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054395326197&locale=el_GR
🌐 Website:
https://odeionkerkyras.gr/
The Corfu Conservatory was founded on June 23, 1894, under the name “Corfu Musical Society”, and in 1899 it was renamed “Corfu Conservatory”. It is the second oldest active conservatory in Greece, after the Athens Conservatory.
From its very beginning, it has operated as a non-profit institution with a clear mission: to provide access to high-level music education to people of all social backgrounds. The vocal school originally offered free tuition, while the rest of the departments operated — as they still do today — with minimal fees. Students in financial need were able to study free of charge.
Many distinguished Corfiot composers served as directors and teachers of the Conservatory, some of whom offered their services voluntarily.
The Corfu Conservatory today
Today, the Conservatory employs more than 30 teachers and serves approximately 300 students. Tuition fees remain very low, as the institution has never lost its strong social character. Students in need continue to study free of charge.
The Conservatory hosts a remarkable music library, with over 2,000 musical works and books, including many rare and historical editions. Most of these were acquired directly from Italy in the early 20th century, and several are first editions. The collection also includes rare works by composers of the Ionian School, many of whom were themselves directors or teachers at the Conservatory.
The library also preserves the institution’s valuable historical archive — as much as has survived — documenting its long history. In addition, the Conservatory maintains a record collection with rare gramophone recordings. Among its notable exhibits is the piano of the British High Commissioner Sir Thomas Maitland.
The Corfu Conservatory stands as a landmark in the history of Greek music. Throughout its long and continuous presence, it has educated many musicians who later distinguished themselves in Greece and abroad.
Despite its long history of over 125 years, the Conservatory’s dream of acquiring its own permanent building remains unfulfilled, due to limited financial resources, which rely mainly on modest member contributions and low tuition fees.
Nevertheless, through a tireless effort and with the support of the local community, the Corfu Conservatory continues to uphold the values of culture and musical education. Beyond offering high-level musical training, it provides something even more valuable: ideals, values, and cultural enrichment for the younger generations.
