TRIFONAS NICOLAIDES -- Bouzouki/Vocals

Trifonas was born the son of a cantor in the Greek Orthodox Church, and was exposed to Byzantine music at an early age. He studied bouzouki and voice and by age 13 was performing in local clubs and festivals in his hometown in Cyprus. By age 23, Trifonas had a reputation as a performer that extended throughout Cyprus, Greece and Israel. He then started a recording career that produced numerous albums and many sold out concerts. After his second tour of the United States he decided to move his family and career to New York which he now calls home. One of the original founders and current partner of Alpha Orchestra, Trifonas’s experience spans all the styles of Greek music, including Byzantine, Persian, Ottoman and Arabic influences. Trifonas sings in 8 languages, and plays music from all over the world.

STEVE VAVAGIAKIS -- Drums/Percussion (vavastrat@aol.com)

Born in the Bronx from Greek immigrant parents, Steve began studying drums at age 11 and began playing professionally by age 16. He received a bachelor of science degree in music, with honors, from the City University Of N.Y., at Brooklyn College. There he studied percussion with N.Y. Philharmonic percussionist, Morris Lang. Steve has performed with numerous classical ensembles, including The Greg Smith Singers, The New Amsterdam Symphony and the Housing Authority Symphony, through which classical music is introduced to the city projects, and to whose board of directors he is currently a member. Steve has also performed on Broadway in the Joseph Papp production of "The Leaf People" and "A Chorus Line". An author of published articles on Greek musical styles, Steve has traveled, performing around the world as well as featured at "Meet The Performer" Series on WNYC. As a founding member and current partner, Steve is incorporating modern percussion elements and traditional Greek styles in Alpha Orchestra. Steve also designs recording studios and is a recording and mastering engineer operating Bang Zoom Studios. BangZoomOnline 

GEORGE VLESMAS -- Guitar/Synth/Vocals (gvlesmas1@optonline.net)

George attended Julliard College of Music and has played professionally since the age of 16. He has performed with many famous Greek singers including Stratos Dionisiou, Manolis Angelopoulos, Yiannis Poulopoulos, Stamatis Kokotas and many others.His professional career has included extensive travel overseas in such locations as Greece, India, China, Australia and France.For twelve years, George was the bouzouki player for the Trio Belcanto.As well as performing and touring with Alpha Orchestra and being a current partner in the group, George has a school for music in New York where he teaches both bouzouki and guitar.

LIZ QUELER -- Vocals

ANDY DRELLES -- Saxophone/Clarinet/Flute/Oboe  

Andy's love for music, both Greek and American began very early in life from his exposure to the extensive record collections of his parents and grandparents.  In the 6th grade he began to learn the clarinet.  By the time Andy earned his Bachelors degree from the University of Michigan School of Music eleven years later, he was also playing eight other woodwind instruments such as flute, saxophone and oboe, and had already been playing professionally for seven years.  Andy also earned a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from SUNY Purchase.  While still in Michigan, and since his arrival in New York in 1979, Andy has played in the back-up orchestras for a long list of name artists such as Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, The Temptations, Bernadette Peters, Cab Calloway, Jerry Lewis, Robert Goulet, Jerry Vale, Bobby Vinton, Engelbert Humperdink, Johnny Mathis and many others.  Andy is featured on several recordings by the well-known cabaret singer Karen Akers with whom he worked for 20 years.  He also appears on many other recordings by various artists and on the cast albums of several Broadway shows.  Since 1980, Andy has worked extensively in the pit orchestras of over 50 Broadway musicals, such as Cats, A Chorus Line, Crazy For You, 42nd Street, Dream Girls, Miss Saigon, Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, Gypsy, Fosse and Jersey Boys.  Andy has been with ALPHA for 15 years.  In addition to his playing career and many years of private teaching, Andy has also taught music in the public schools since 1990.  He currently teaches at PS 209Q in Whitestone, Queens.

JOHN T. PRESTIANNI -- Keyboards

Since graduating SUNY Purchase, John has been a professional musician working with several top acts, like Paddy Noonan, Red Hurley, Ian Gallagher and Glen Curtain. As a full-time accompanist for both dancers and singers alike he has worked with a long list of Broadway stars, from the shows Chicago, Hairspray, The Producers, Movin Out, Mama Mia, The Lion King, among others. He has musically directed shows at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, as well as musical theater and dance showcases all around NYC.
Over the years John has been on the staff at many Universities as a ballet and modern accompanist, including Marymount Manhattan, NYU, LIU and Hofstra. He’s also been an accompanist at the Graham and Limon schools, and this summer for Mark Morris in Brooklyn. He has developed a niche for Theater Dance in particular, playing and teaching for the American Theater Dance Workshop for fourteen years. He has taught these workshops both locally and abroad.
In addition, John is a composer and an arranger. He recently had his original musical "The Vaudevillian", written with Brian Henry, developed and read by Chelsea Rep/The Acting Studio. He has written songs and lyrics for "Classy Bee Creations", a children’s entertainment company. In 2000, John scored and performed music for choreographer Pascal Benichou, which was lauded by the New York Times. He also penned "My Ireland", the title track of Ian Gallagher’s latest CD.
John brings a tremendous wealth of experience, of many diverse musical styles, to Alpha Music.

DEAN CHOLAKIS -- Bass

Although he started on clarinet, Dean soon found himself playing guitar in his formative years performing with the likes of Yusuf Rahman, Rickie Lee Jones and Santi Debriano. An excellent bass player as well, Dean is extremely well-versed in ethnic musics and is a seasoned veteran of the New York Greek music scene. Dean has worked at all the major clubs such as the Grecian Cave, Asteria, Sirroco, Fantasia and Zodiac.
Dean takes pride in the in the fact that he was a permanent member of the Molfetas 46 house band for many years.
 

ANDREW BOKAR -- DJ/MC

Andy Bokar began his musical career at the age of sixteen, deejaying at high school events. As his popularity increased, he decided to turn his hobby into a profession, and soon became a party DJ.  While studying pre-law at college, he had his own show as a DJ at the college's radio station and soon after performed at numerous functions in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, While he made his way through law school, he honed his DJ skills and mastered the steps to all the newest dances.  Andy has performed at countless weddings and other private events in the NY Metropolitan area, and at some of NY's hottest night clubs, such as "The Roxy", "Vibe Lounge", and the former "Windows on the World" at the top of the World Trade Center.   Today, Andy is not only a practicing lawyer, but has joined forces with ALPHA to take his musical talents to the next level.

NATHAN BLOOM -- Guitars and Vocals

Nathan started his musical odyssey singing and playing guitar at age seven and was shortly thereafter performing regularly for his friends and classmates in Long Island. From the second grade on, he's been out perfecting his craft. A graduate of the University of Miami School of Music, he has also earned a Master's Degree from the Mason Groves School of Music, where he studied with the late jazz guitar legend, Ted Dunbar. Putting his music business prowess to work for the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) for more than a decade, he still performs regularly in the tri-state area in a wide variety of ensembles and venues. Also a composer and teacher, Nathan received his Greek musical education as a regular member of the Mike Daniels Orchestra.

LORRAINE FERRO -- Vocals

Lorraine is an accomplished singer/songwriter, performing her original material in New York’s most prestigious venues. She has written several hit songs, including the song "Adonai" recorded by the group Avalon, and is a member of GMA, the Songwriters’ Guild, BMI, SAG, Women in Music, and the Songwriters' Hall of Fame (NAPM), where she won their coveted Abe Olman award. She has sung with Billy Joel, Liza Minelli, and CeCe Winans among others, and regularly backs up Lesley Gore. She also has a music ministry, and performs regularly at churches and coffeehouses. Lorraine is a top session singer, writes for various jingle houses, and can be heard on national television and radio, singing such national spots as Nabisco, Folgers, GMC Trucks, and Planters Peanuts, as well as the voice on the Sally Jessy Raphael Show theme. She teaches a professional songwriting workshop for NAPM, and her CD project is due to be finished in the next few months.

Petros started his music journey at the age of 5, studying piano with renown composers and music theorists in his native Thessaloniki, Greece. He continued his studies and began performing in Greece and around Europe, and in 1992, moved to NYC to study piano with G. Huimousky, music education with John Gilbert (NYU) and Orchestra Conducting with Vincent LaSelva (Julliard School).

In addition to performing and teaching, Petros also writes music, mostly orchestral scores for large ensembles. He has also written children’s songs, music for children’s theatre, film scores, including the 1993 film “Atlantis”, and jingles for radio and television commercials. He currently performs as one of the organists at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in NYC, and is Choir Master and organist at the Church of our Savior in Rye, NY. Petros is also working on a syllabus for Music Instruction in Greek American parochial school, and his most current project is the Conservatory at Rye, of which he is founder.

CHRISTOS PAPADOPOULOS -- Bouzouki/Vocals

Born in New Jersey, Christos had an early love for Greek music. At age 12 he started studying bouzouki and by age 16 started playing in a band comprised of friends from GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America) at festivals and events throughout New Jersey. Christos is relatively new in the Greek music scene in New York, having appeared at clubs including Thiasos, Seismos, Zodiac, Concertos, Gazi and Platos. He was involved in a program at Thiasos called "Afieroma", in which he performed music composed by Hatzidakis and Zampetas, and also "Rembetika" songs. Christos has a diverse playing ability that ranges from guitar, to bouzouki, to tzoura and baglama. He is currently a senior at Rutgers University studying Economics and looks forward to studying music exclusively after graduation. Christos has worked alongside the musicians in Alpha Orchestra at various events and club appearances, and is looking forward to adding his talent and abilities to Alpha Orchestra's great musicians for an unforgettable musical experience.

ANDY PAPPAS -- Guitar/Vocals
11 Nov 1953 to 27 Jan 1999

Born in Akapnou, Cyprus, Andy and his family immigrated to the US when he was five years old. Andy had been exposed to traditional Greek music at an early age, as his relatives would gather on holidays to sing, dance and play violins, guitars and bouzoukis for hours. He taught himself to play the guitar, and at the age of eighteen was playing with local NYC Greek bands such as "Eros" and "The Trojans". Although he contemplated entering the fields of aeronautics, engineering and meteorology in his academic years, his love of music was more overpowering, and he decided to pursue his life's dream of playing the guitar for a living.

During his 20's, he expanded his knowledge of Greek popular and Middle Eastern music by performing in Manhattan nightclubs such as the Darvish, Dionysos and Scirocco. Finally, in 1985, Andy and his three partners founded Alpha Music to serve the musical needs of the Greek-American community. Through his keen ability to understand the concerns of his clients and to ensure them that their functions would go smoothly, Andy was able to build a superb reputation in the entertainment industry. Once Alpha Music was established, Andy and his colleague, Trifonas were able to expand the band's notoriety by perfoming upon request throughout Europe, Israel, and North and South America. Moreover, given Andy's humanitarian interests, the band was also used to draw crowds and provide entertainment for benefits, fund-raisers and charitable events.

Although never at a loss for words himself, Andy's untimely death left many speechless. He will be dearly missed by those who knew him, who are now comforted by all the happy memories he left and will be reminded of his warm smile and smooth voice every time they raise their glass in his honor.