Harry Stafylakis
| Harry Stafylakis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982 Montréal, Quebec, Canada |
| 💼 Occupation | Composer, educator, guitarist, producer |
| 📆 Years active | 2006–present |
| 🌐 Website | http://www.hstafylakis.com |
Haralabos "Harry" Stafylakis (born 1982) is a Canadian-American composer, guitarist, and educator based in New York City. His work fuses contemporary classical idioms with progressive and heavy-metal textures, noted for its "propulsive rhythms and distinctive timbres". He serves as Composer-in-Residence of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and co-curator of its Winnipeg New Music Festival, and is the creator of the 2023 album Calibrating Friction, which was nominated at the 2024 JUNO Awards for Instrumental Album of the Year.[1][2][3]
Early life and education
Born in Montréal, Québec, in 1982, Stafylakis began his musical journey with early training in classical piano. He later became a guitarist and vocalist in progressive metal bands, where he experimented with blending classical and jazz sensibilities with metal—a cross-genre foundation that underpins his compositional voice.[4]
In 2010, he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition from McGill University and in 2011 moved to New York City, where he completed graduate studies at The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY).[5][6]
Career
Stafylakis's music combines elements of the Western contemporary classical tradition with the rhythmic drive and timbral weight of metal and progressive rock; critics have described his style as "dreamy yet rhythmic" and noted its "doomsday chords and jackhammer rhythms."[7][8]
He has served as Composer-in-Residence of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and co-curator of the Winnipeg New Music Festival since 2016.[9][10]
He has collaborated with soloists such as Evelyn Glennie, Rachel Barton Pine, Philippe Sly, Alexandre Da Costa, Raphael Weinroth-Browne, and others.[11]
His works have been performed by orchestras and ensembles such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Roomful of Teeth, JACK Quartet, and others.[12]
Major projects and collaborations
In 2018–2019, he collaborated with the progressive metal band Animals As Leaders on symphonic adaptations of their music.[13]
His composition "Source Code" appears on the Hard Rubber Orchestra album Iguana (Redshift Records), which earned a JUNO Award nomination in 2023 for Instrumental Album of the Year.[14]
Recordings
His debut solo album Calibrating Friction was released on September 15, 2023, on New Amsterdam Records, featuring collaborations with Javier Reyes (Animals As Leaders), Vicky Chow (Bang on a Can All-Stars), Raphael Weinroth-Browne, Ken Thomson, and others.[15][16][17]
Recordings of his works are available on labels including New Amsterdam Records, Naxos, Analekta, Leaf Music, Contrastes, Redshift, and Sono Luminus.[18]
Awards and recognition
He has been awarded the Charles Ives Fellowship by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, ASCAP's Leonard Bernstein Award, SOCAN's Classical Composer of the Year, four SOCAN Foundation Young Composer Awards, and grants from national arts councils.[19]
Teaching and academic appointments
Stafylakis serves on the Music & Technology faculty at Purchase College (SUNY), and has previously taught at City College of New York (CUNY) and Nazareth University. He also directs the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra's WNMF Composers Institute.[20][21]
Selected press and reviews
His music has been featured and reviewed in publications including the Winnipeg Free Press, SOCAN Magazine, and other arts press, highlighting his genre-bridging work.[22][23]
External links
References
- ↑ "Calibrating Friction Unveils a Muscular, Pyrotechnic Blend..." stafylakis.bandcamp.com. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Winnipeg New Music Festival – Artist Profile". wnmf.ca. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "2024 JUNO Award Nominations: Jazz and Classical Highlights". myscena.org. 6 February 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Harry Stafylakis Tends Toward the Romantic Tradition – SOCAN Magazine". socanmagazine.ca. 10 May 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis – Nazareth University". naz.edu. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Haralabos (Harry) Stafylakis • Studio Composition – Purchase College". purchase.edu. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Haralabos (Harry) Stafylakis • Studio Composition – Purchase College". purchase.edu. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Haralabos Stafylakis – Nazareth University". naz.edu. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "GC Alum Harry Stafylakis Co-Curates Winnipeg New Music Festival". gcmusic.commons.gc.cuny.edu. 25 January 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis – Winnipeg New Music Festival". wnmf.ca. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Haralabos Stafylakis – Nazareth University". naz.edu. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis – New Amsterdam Records". newamrecords.org. 10 July 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis – Just a Theory Press". justatheorypress.com. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Scoop: Classical Music 2023 JUNO Awards". ludwig-van.com. February 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis – Calibrating Friction – Bandcamp". stafylakis.bandcamp.com. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis – Calibrating Friction". newamrecords.org. 13 October 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "2024 JUNO Winners: Instrumental Album Award". inmusicblog.com. 24 March 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Haralabos Stafylakis – Nazareth University". naz.edu. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Haralabos (Harry) Stafylakis • Studio Composition – Purchase College". purchase.edu. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Educator – Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis". hstafylakis.com. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "WNMF Composers Institute". wso.ca. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Harry Stafylakis Tends Toward the Romantic Tradition – SOCAN Magazine". socanmagazine.ca. 10 May 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "I Care If You Listen – Press Materials". hstafylakis.com. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
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