“Rhythm and breath are what connect us to our bodies and to one another.”
Nefes [breath] is a vocal ensemble founded in Thessaloniki in October 2019.
The ensemble explores musical traditions of the Mediterranean and the Balkans while seeking new ways of interpreting and presenting them. Combining polyphonic singing techniques with elements of theatre, movement, and performance, Nefes investigates the expressive power of the collective voice. Through contemporary arrangements of traditional melodies and original compositions inspired by these traditions, the ensemble develops performances that bring music, storytelling, and stage presence into dialogue.
Since its founding, Nefes has presented the music performances The Mediterranean Sings and From Love to Death at festivals and venues including Cosmopolis Festival (Kavala), Tentart Festival (Drama), the 3rd Handmade & Recycled Theater Festival (Athens), and the Folklife and Ethnological Museum of Macedonia–Thrace. In 2023, the ensemble recorded its first album and presented Untamed World – A Motet for Versions of Voices as part of the Open Theatre Stage of the City programme in Thessaloniki. During the summers of 2024 and 2025, Nefes toured with A CAPELLA – The Suite of Imaginary Beings, presenting the work in theatres, music venues, and at Verdant Festival.
Beyond its artistic productions, Nefes also operates as an educational and research-based vocal laboratory. Its methodology has been presented at the Music Village of Pelion (2023, 2024), implemented with the En Dynamei Ensemble—a mixed-ability performing arts group—and shared internationally through presentations at Verdant Festival and the Ursino Buskers Festival in Sicily.
Artistic Director & Vocal Ensemble Leader:
Elena Moudiri Hasiotou
Nefes Theatrical Choir
A new singing ensemble dedicated to repertoire from theatre, cinema, cabaret, musicals, revues, and ancient drama. Through weekly rehearsals, participants explore storytelling through song and discover the expressive possibilities of theatrical singing.
Open to participants of all levels.
Nefes Repertorio
Vocal Repertoire Workshop
An educational programme focused on learning songs from the musical traditions of the Mediterranean and the Balkans.
Through collective singing, participants explore polyphonic techniques, stylistic interpretation, vocal expression, and the cultural contexts of diverse musical traditions. Vocal technique is approached through the repertoire itself, responding to the practical needs that emerge during the learning process.
Nefes Project
Polyphonic Vocal Laboratory for Singers and Actors
Nefes Project is the ensemble’s advanced performance group. For the past six years, it has functioned as a creative laboratory exploring the coexistence of multiple voices through polyphony, rhythm, and collective interpretation.
In recent years, the group has focused on contemporary approaches to Greek folk and popular song traditions and related musical cultures. Each year, a limited number of new members are invited to join the ensemble through an audition and selection process.
Discover Nefes Vocal Ensemble:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYKopRmbMco
