Events
Cultural Programs & Events
From Nashville to Athens, HICD USA brings Hellenic heritage to life through performances, lectures, ceremonies, and cultural exchanges.
Upcoming
THEATER DIPLOMACY: "Work of Two Persons" by Tennessee Williams
📅 May 16–17, 2026 · 📍 The Garage Theatre (Eleni Dagka space), Demokratias 53, Rethymnon, Crete
Following critical acclaim in Athens and as part of a broader May tour across Crete, Patras, and Thessaloniki, Tennessee Williams' most intensely personal and rarely seen play comes to Rethymnon for two performances only. Williams himself described this play as his "heart's cry" and his finest work since A Streetcar Named Desire. The story follows two siblings, Felice and Claire Devoto, arriving in an unknown city with their troupe — abandoned and alone in an empty theater, they must bring to life a play that mirrors their very existence. Directed by and starring Nana Papadaki alongside Vangelis Papadakis. Presented under the auspices of the Hellenic Institute of Cultural Diplomacy USA. Produced by Maldor Urban Non-Profit Corporation. Seating is limited — reserve early: 6932492752.
Past Events
Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition
📅 December 14–19, 2025 · 📍 Lipscomb University & Creswell Middle Magnet School for the Arts, Nashville, TN
HICD USA was proud to partner with the Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition, one of the most prestigious young pianist competitions in the country. Held December 14–19, 2025 at Lipscomb University, the week-long event brought together gifted pianists from across the globe to perform the works of Frédéric Chopin before an international jury. HICD Ambassador Dr. Nita Smith extended the competition's reach beyond the concert hall by developing and distributing educational materials to Metro Nashville Schools — connecting the next generation of students to the cultural and artistic legacy of classical music. The week culminated in a live performance by young virtuosos at Creswell Middle Magnet School for the Arts.
Special Lecture & Viewing Night: The Antikythera Mechanism
📅 October 2, 2025 · 📍 Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory, Brentwood, TN
Originally scheduled for April 3, 2025; rescheduled to October 2, 2025 due to weather. Co-presented by HICD USA and Vanderbilt University's Dyer Observatory, this special evening brought together two of the world's foremost scholars on the Antikythera Mechanism — the ancient Greek device widely regarded as the world's first analog computer. Dr. Xenophon Moussas, Astrophysicist and Curator Emeritus of Dyer Observatory, and Dr. Julio Sausedo Morales, Research Professor at the Instituto de Astronomía, UNAM (Mexico), delivered lectures on the mechanism's extraordinary engineering and its place in the history of science.
Greek Independence Day Illuminations — Nashville, 2026
📅 March 25, 2026 · 📍 Nashville, TN — Parthenon, Tennessee State Capitol, Davidson County Courthouse & Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge
Since 2021, HICD USA has coordinated the annual blue-and-white illumination of four of Nashville's most iconic landmarks in honor of Greek Independence Day each March 25th: the Parthenon in Centennial Park, the Tennessee State Capitol, the Davidson County Courthouse, and the Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge. This annual tradition honors the 1821 Greek War of Independence and deepens the cultural bond between Nashville and the Hellenic world.
Greek Independence Day 2024 — Illuminations & Ceremony at the Parthenon
📅 March 25, 2024 · 📍 Centennial Park, Parthenon (West Side), Nashville, TN
On March 25, 2024, Nashville — the 'Athens of the South' — celebrated the 203rd anniversary of Greek Independence with a ceremony organized by HICD USA at the Parthenon in Centennial Park. HICD USA welcomed His Excellency Theodoros Dimopoulos, Consul of Greece-Atlanta, for the ceremony at the Parthenon's west side. A proclamation from Mayor Freddy O'Connell of Nashville, honoring Greek Independence and presented to Consul General Dimopoulos, was read by Monique Horton Odom. The celebrations also featured HICD USA's annual tradition of illuminating Nashville's most iconic landmarks in Greek blue and white.
International Women's Day — Alias Chamber Ensemble at the Parthenon
📅 March 10, 2024 · 📍 The Parthenon, Centennial Park, Nashville, TN
In celebration of International Women's Day, HICD USA partnered with the Alias Chamber Ensemble and the Centennial Park Conservancy's ECHO series — Chamber Music at the Parthenon — for an evening of chamber music inside one of Nashville's most iconic Hellenic landmarks. The Alias Chamber Ensemble, known for their dynamic and boundary-pushing approach to classical music, performed a program honoring the contributions of women to music, culture, and public life.
Maria Callas in Three Voices — A Centennial Celebration
📅 December 2, 2023 · 📍 Virtual Event
Presented by the Hellenic Institute of Cultural Diplomacy – USA, Maria Callas in Three Voices was a virtual centennial celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of soprano Maria Callas (1923–2023). The event featured performances by three sopranos: Sophia Papadimitropoulou (Athens), Eleni Calenos (New York), and American soprano Savanna Sokolnicki (Nashville) — each bringing her own voice and interpretation to the Callas legacy.
From the Past to the World — Concert at the Holy Monastery of Vellas
📅 August 13, 2023 · 📍 Holy Monastery of Vellas, Epirus, Greece
Held under the auspices of the Region of Epirus and the Holy Metropolis of Ioannina, this open-air concert at the Holy Monastery of Vellas brought together 32 international musicians from the United States, Europe, and Greece for an evening dedicated to the living traditions of Epirote music. The program honored master musicians Petroulouka Halkia and Vasilis Kostas. HICD USA co-sponsored the event — its third cultural collaboration in Greece that year — providing dinners for the participating musicians.
International Dance Day — Interpreting the Antikythera Mechanism, Samos
📅 April 29, 2023 · 📍 Regional Government of Samos, Greece
On International Dance Day, Christina Tsardoulias and Magdalini Theosidou of the Samos School of Dance presented the artwork "Interpreting the Antikythera Mechanism" to Mr. Vasilis Panourakis, Regional Vice Governor of Samos. The work was created and gifted by the artists of The Borderless Arts, Tennessee — a community of young artists with disabilities whose inspiration was drawn from the ancient Antikythera Mechanism. HICD USA served as the bridge that made this transatlantic cultural exchange possible.
Archive: 2021–2023
Earlier programs from HICD USA's founding years.
Nashville Art Presentation to Samos, Greece
📅 April 29, 2023
On April 29, 2023 a work of art, based on the ancient Antikythera Mechanism and created by young artists from Borderless Arts TN was presented by Christina Tsardoulias Malagaris to Mr. Vasilis Panourakis, Regional Vice Governor of Samos, Greece for display in his office. The presentation was the culmination of a cultural collaboration between HICD-USA, Borderless Arts TN (providing arts access for persons with…
Women's History Month (part 2) - "Daughters of the Muses" (Κόρες των Μουσών)
📅 March 23, 2023
In celebration of Women's History Month, part 2 of our video series honored six Greek cultural leaders (March 23-25th and 27-29th). Honorees included Maria Lagogianni-Georgaharakos, Agni Zotis, Lisa Xanthopoulou, Georgia Zoi, Kassandra Dimopoulou, and Eftihia Veniota.
Voices: Eight Poems (Φωνές: Οκτώ ποιήματα)
📅 March 21, 2023
On March 21st, HICD-USA celebrated World Poetry Day with a selection of eight poems. -" Ithaca" by C.P. Cavafy and read by Sean Connery
Women's History Month - "Daughters of the Muses" (Κόρες των Μουσών) Women's History Month
📅 March 12, 2023
On March 12th-18th, in celebration of Women's History, HICD-USA offered video interviews honoring six Nashville cultural leaders: Margaret Campbelle-Holman, Anne Roos, Denice Hicks, Susan Short-Jones, Wesley Paine, and Ellen Gilbert. The series was hosted at Nashville's historic Hermitage Hotel, and introduced by hotel General Manager Dee Patel. The series was filmed by HICD-USA Ambassador Demetria Kalodimos…
International Greek Language Day
📅 February 9, 2023
On February 9th, HICD-USA celebrated International Greek Language Day by posting poems in both Greek and English poets Rania Angelakoudi and Nicholas Alexiou. In addition, we shared "The Ancient Greek Regard for Rhetoric" from the Univerdity of Houston's "Engines of Our Ingenuity, No 1926: Rhetoric" posted by Andrew Boyd.
"Steal Away" Echoes Concert Series, The Parthenon
📅 January 29, 2023
On January 29th, HICD-USA kicked off the secind half of our annual partnership with the Conservancy's Echo Series at the Parthenon as sponsor for the audio portion of the concert, "Steal Away." Created by Emmy-nominated composer Dave Ragland with noted choreographer Shabaz Ujima, this contemporary music/dance/opera hybrid was inspired by traditional spirituals and universal themes of hope, struggle, and renewal. …
Virtual Performance Series: "The Twelve Days of Christmas: Greeks Bearing Gifts."
📅 December 25, 2022
Beginning December 25th, 2022 and continuing through January 5th, 2023, HICD-USA highlighted outstanding contemporary individual Greek performers, artists, composers and musicians with twice daily videos of the featured performer as a special "gift" to American viewers. Over the course the initial 12 days, the videos were seen by over 3,000 viewers which can still be easily accessed and viewed on our Facebook page…
Songs of Smyrna: Commemorating the Centennial of the Asia Minor Catastrophe
📅 November 20, 2022
On November 20, 2022, HICD-USA , hosted our first live concert event, "Songs of Smyrna: Commemorating the Centennial of the Asia Minor Catastrophe" at Nashville's historic Downtown Presbyterian Church. Three international Grammy nominees were among the musicians in this memorable and beautiful concert performed by Anatoliama Ensemble (Vasilis Kostas, Panos Aivas, and George Lernis) with special guests cellist…
The Greek Diaspora in America: Building Digital Archives
📅 November 2, 2022
Our November 2nd, 2022 webinar brought together the distinguished panel of Dr.Yiorgo Topelidis, founder and coordinator of the Ottoman Greeks of the US Project (University of Florida) and Dr Nicholas Alexiou, Director of the Hellenic American Project (Queens College CUNY) to highlight current efforts to create archival collections on the experiences of Greek Diaspora, with special focus on the powerful oral …
Historic Metro Council Recognition
📅 October 12, 2022
HICD-USA initiated the city's historic resolution (#RS 2022-1764) in recognition of the 125th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARTHENON in Nashville as recognized in Council session by the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County on October 12, 2022. The US branch of the Hellenic Institute of Cultural Diplomacy joined with Metro Parks, and the people of Nashville in thanking Metro Council and council sponsors of…
Exhibition: The 125th Anniversary of the Parthenon (1897-2022)
📅 October 1, 2022
HICD-USA initiated and co-sponsored an education exhibition at John Early Middle Museum Magnet School, Nashville (October-December 2022) as students under the direction of Lyndell Edmondson presented the city's only exhibition focusing exclusively on the Parthenon anniversary. Students (grades 5-8) researched the Parthenon history as the centerpiece of the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition, and designed and…
HICD visits to Greece and Historic Signing
📅 September 9, 2022
A visit to Greece by HICD Ambassador Katie Patrole (Assistant Director, The Parthenon in Nashville) in June, was followed in September by an official visit by President DeeGee Lester and Treasurer Theresa Wilkins-Jones in September in a continuation of making connections for potential collaborations. An historic signing event on September 9th at the Grand Britagne Hotel took place as HICD-USA officially agreed with…
Initiated August 20th Nashville recognition of Parthenon's 125th Anniversary
📅 August 20, 2022
HICD-USA arranged recognition of the Parthenon's 125th Anniversary on August 20th as NashvilleSC professional soccer team honored the Anniversary during the match and gave special jumbo-tron recognition to retiring Parthenon Director Wesley Paine as "Hero of the Match" for her 42 years of service to the museum. On the same night, BNA, Nashville's International Airport illuminated the new parking garages in…
Co-sponsor, First Balkan Horn Meeting, Corfu, Greece
📅 August 17, 2022
On August 17-20, 2022, HICD-USA was a proud co-sponsor of the first Balkan Horn Meeting, providing, through the creative efforts of our designer Kostas Stephanopoulos of GdDesign, the logo design and promotional items. The 4-day event organized by Kostas Siskos and Maria Fotia of GrBrassMutes and co-organized by the Corfu Philharmonic Kapodistrias, and Koras Horn Ensemble brought together musicians from Greece and…
125th Anniversary of the Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee (1897-2022)
📅 May 22, 2022
In recognition and celebration of the 125 Anniversary of the Parthenon, HICD-USA unveiled a banner on May 1st - the date of the Parthenon's opening at the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. The first event presentation of the banner was at a May 22nd virtual panel in New York. (See next event).
HICD-USA Participation in New York City Virtual Panel: "The 'Elgin'/Parthenon Sculptures Controversy"
📅 May 20, 2022
Sponsored by EMBCA on May 20, 2022, and moderated by the honorable Ilias I. Katsos (EMBCA founder and President) in Association with AHEPA’s Hellenic Cultural Commission, the panel offered a thought provoking discussion of the 220 year controversy surrounding Greek efforts for the return of the Parthenon sculptures from the British Museum. HICD-USA President DeeGee Lester joined the distinguished panel including…
"Orpheus Reimagined" Parthenon Echoes Concert Series
📅 March 27, 2022
As underwriter for the audio portion of the Centennial Park Conservancy Echoes Series of Chamber Music for the Parthenon, HICD-USA co-sponsored "Orpheus Reimagined." This exquisite evening of music and dance at the feet of Athena was presented by Duncan Dance South (directed and featuring HICD-USA Dance Advisory Chair, Meg Brooker) with choral music by Portara Ensemble, under the artistic direction of Jason Shelton.
Sail to Freedom
📅 June 6, 2021
On June 6, 2021, HICD-USA was honored to participate in New York City's spectacular 1821-2021 Greek Bicentennial "Sail to Freedom" in New York Harbor, concluding with the sailing of ships and yachts to the Statue of Liberty. Nashville's video greeting to Greeks and Philhellenes everywhere was created by HICD-USA Ambassador Demetria Kalodimos and introduces the world to Nashville's upcoming 1824-2024 celebration of…
125th Anniversary of the Parthenon
📅 Date not recorded
Join us in celebrating, throughout 2022, the 125th Anniversary of the Parthenon in Nashville (1897-2022)!!
Inaugural Event
📅 Date not recorded
HICD-USA's inaugural event was a 3-night virtual "1821-2021" program honoring the Bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence and featuring academic presentations and performances in music, dance, and dramatic re-enactment. The celebration culminated with the reading of a Mayoral Proclamation declaring March 25th as Greek Independence Day in Nashville, a formal greeting from Greek Ambassador to the United States…
Partnering for "Orpheus Reimagined."
📅 Date not recorded
As a partner for the 2022 Conservancy Echo Concert Series, HICD-USA co-sponsored "Orpheus Reimagined" featuring music of the magnificent 32-member choral group, Portara Ensemble, interpreted by beautiful dance performance by Duncan Dance South, under direction of HICD Dance Advisory Council chair, Meh Brooker.
The Antikythera Mechanism Exhibition at the Parthenon
📅 Date not recorded
The Antikythera Mechanism Exhibition at the Parthenon The weekend of June 4th-6th, HICD-USA celebrated two important inaugural year milestones: the opening of the Antikythera Mechanism exhibition at the Parthenon, and our virtual participation in New York City's "Sail to Freedom" honoring the Greek 1821-2021 Bicentennial. Initiated in conversations two years ago between DeeGee Lester and Dr Xenophon Moussas, the…