Boston, MA, USA – Singer-songwriter Andrea Charls from Nicosia, and percussionist George Lernis from Nicosia met not in Cyprus, but in Boston where they both studied at world-famous Berklee College of Music.
Charls, who had won The International Pan-Hellenic Music Competition and later sang with Annie Lennox, and Lernis, who had been a musician in a military band in the The National Guard of Cyprus, were joined by a common goal: to promote the music of Cyprus in the United States.
Lernis created his own company, Lernis Music, which has become widely successful in the United States, with the concert series and cultural presentations dedicated to Cypriot music presented at some of the most prestigious venues in the land, including Metropolitan Museum in New York, The New England Conservatory and The Tsai Performance Center in Boston, and – the most famous concert hall in the whole world – Carnegie Hall in New York.
“We felt the deep need to share our amazing national heritage with the entire world”, exclaims Charls, who at 29 exudes the bursting energy and elegant beauty, qualities personified by her acclaimed voice which was recently even briefly “loaned” to Shakira in a viral “The Fountain of Peyeia” video. “Our traditional songs are incredible and must be popularized on a global scale. These songs are truly unique.”
With the repertoire consisting of traditional Cypriot songs arranged by her, Charls appeared to critical acclaim as a guest star at the Outside The Box, which is one of the most popular festivals in Boston, with over 650,000 attendees. Encouraged by the enthusiastic public support, the energetic performer formed her own music ensemble, Antheia, solely dedicated to the music of Cyprus, and under her tireless leadership, it has become one of the pillars of the Cypriot culture in the US and the only band that is currently representing the traditional music of Cyprus in America. Charls has recently been recognized for her highly innovative work with Antheia by the prestigious Live Arts Boston Award. Charls is now arranging songs for a new, highly anticipated Antheia album, entitled “Antheia Presents: The Sound of Cyprus” which is scheduled to be released in 2021.
Charls is also joining forces with Lernis Music as its new leading singer, arranger and music director. One of the their eagerly awaited productions will be a special grand performance at the Boston distinguished Byzantine Festival.
Cypriot Music Conquers America
