Alternative Stage Founding Donor
Following two successful editions, the Percussion Festival of the GNO Alternative Stage returns for a third, and most ambitious, run, offering a three-day experience dedicated to the art of percussion and to the dialogue among diverse musical traditions. Scheduled for 1, 2, and 3 July 2026, the Percussion Festival, curated by percussion soloist Marinos Tranoudakis, invites audiences to a fascinating experience of sound and vibrant rhythms that will shake up the GNO Alternative Stage at the SNFCC.
The 3rd Percussion Festival features renowned international soloists, distinguished Greek musicians, and emerging artists, offering audiences a diverse programme of concerts, workshops, masterclasses, and educational events. The Festival spans a wide range of the contemporary percussion scene, underscoring its role as one of the most important meeting points in Greece and Europe.
Concert
Sarayån
GNO Alternative Stage - SNFCC • Starts at: 20.30
Khalil Khoury (qanun), Tony Roe (piano), Ruven Ruppik (percussion)
German drummer and composer Ruven Ruppik is one of the most active figures in the contemporary European jazz scene and in musical improvisation. With a strong presence at international festivals and numerous collaborations that bridge diverse musical traditions, he has developed a personal musical idiom in which rhythm serves as both a creative force and a field for dialogue.
At the 3rd Percussion Festival, he will perform with his trio, which also comprises Khalil Khoury on the qanun and Tony Roe on the piano, presenting a unique programme that combines original compositions, improvisation, and influences from modern jazz and Eastern Mediterranean musical traditions. Through the interplay among these three musicians, the concert will highlight the dynamics of group improvisation and the constant pursuit of new sonic and rhythmic paths.
Tony Roe
A celebrated artist for his innovative approach to music making. As the founder and leader of Tin Men and the Telephone, he has pushed the boundaries of traditional performance by integrating technology, multimedia and audience interaction into his concerts. This approach has earned international acclaim, captivating audiences worldwide. Recently, he received the Boy Edgar Prize, the most prestigious award in Dutch jazz and improvised music. The jury remarked: 'Pianist, composer and bandleader Tony Roe is a versatile musician. His mastery of the instrument is indisputable, but it is his free-spirited approach to the piano that sets his work apart. Roe brings a unique mix of jazz and technology, freely crosses genre boundaries, and adds a new dimension to the audience experience. He is intelligent, passionate, and an innovator in jazz and improvised music.' An accomplished solo artist and sought-after collaborator, Roe recently developed Modular Piano, combining modular synths and interactive visuals with acoustic piano for a unique audio-visual experience.
Khalil Khoury
Award-winning qanun player, composer and sound engineer Khalil Khoury is building a reputation as one of the new generation's most versatile and creative Palestinian musicians, admired for his extraordinary sensitivity and musicality. He completed his Bachelor's degree at the Jerusalem Academy of Music in 2018, followed by an advanced degree in sound engineering and music production, with distinction, at the Abbey Road Institute in Amsterdam. He currently performs as a qanun player with various unique projects around the world. He also serves as the sound engineer and technical manager of Amsterdam's Andalusian Orchestra (AAO). As a multi-talented musician, his musical journey is always on the search for new forms of expression that transcend genres and language barriers. This has allowed his music to travel through different countries and become part of numerous significant projects. In 2023, Khalil was featured as a composer and qanun player on a tour in the Netherlands with the renowned multiple Grammy Award-winning Metropole Orkest.
Ruven Ruppik
He is a percussionist whose work explores the meeting point of different musical traditions. The interweaving of cultures and rhythmic languages forms the foundation of his artistic voice. He began learning music as a self-taught musician at a very young age and began taking drums and piano lessons at the age of eight. Early on he developed a strong affinity for rhythm, groove and percussion instruments, performing in various jazz, rock and pop bands during his youth. During his classical percussion studies at the Detmold University of Music, where he focused on contemporary repertoire, he discovered the rich traditions of the Balkans. Fascinated by the complex rhythms and odd time signatures, he began exploring traditional music from Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Macedonia and Turkey alongside Western classical and contemporary repertoires. To deepen his understanding of global rhythm traditions, Ruven later pursued a Bachelor's degree in World Percussion and a Master's degree in North Indian Classical Music (tabla) at the Codarts University of the Arts in Rotterdam, studying with tabla master Niti Ranjan Biswas and bansuri legend Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, graduating with honours.
