Syros, the capital of the Cyclades, hosts for the last 8 years the most prestigious classical event of the Aegean. The International Classical Music festival of the Cyclades brings together world renown soloists and ensembles, providing the solid ground for international chamber music creativity and presenting masterclasses and concerts to a wide audience from all over the world, the mission of the festival being to promote the art of classical music.

It has been eight years since the cultural vision of four friends and their love for classical music was streamed towards one of the most beautiful Aegean islands. The International Classical Music Festival of Cyclades (ICMFC) was inaugurated in 2004 in the "Noblesse of the Cyclades", as locals call the island of Syros, by Fotis Karayannopoulos, Kostas Fotopoulos, George Foufopoulos and the violinist Yannos Margaziotis, Concertmaster with the Greek National Opera Orchestra and Artistic Director of the festival. During these years, numerous acclaimed soloists and ensembles such as Leonidas Kavakos, Mihaela Martin, Philippe Graffin, Stephan Picard, Per Enocsson, Nobuko Imai, Hariolf Schlichtig, Diemut Poppen, Frans Helmerson, Leo Winland, Nikolas Kavakos, Bruno Weinmeister, Michael Wolf, Thierry Barbé, Spyros Mourikis, Michel Lethiec, Tolga Alpay, Radovan Vlatcovic, Hector Mc Donald, Kostas Kotsiolis, Dimitris Sgouros, Janis Vakarelis, Clair Desert, Katrine Gislinge, Vassiliki Karayanni, Elena Kelessidi, Dimitris Platanias, Royal Danish Orchestra, National Opera of Greece, Athens Camerata - the Friends of Music Orchestra, Michelangelo string quartet, New Hellenic quartet, Storioni trio, Artis piano trio have performed at the Festival.

In August 2012 the ICMFC celebrates its 8th anniversary by organising a Summer Academy and a series of concerts with the participation of international soloists such as, Mihaela Martin, Lars Bjørnkjær, Yuval Gotlibovich, Frans Helmerson, Marko Ylönen, Elena Kelessidi, Ai Motohashi, Leonard Altino, Vassilis Papavassiliou, Michel Lethiec, Tolga Alpay, Ana Lúcia Garcia Altino, Apollon Grammatikopoulos, the Artis piano trio and the Athens Camerata - the Friends of Music Orchestra.

All of the events will be held in the Apollo Theatre of Syros, an architectural masterpiece of the 19th century, which is placed in the centre of the capital town of Syros, Hermoupoulis, and is a miniature replica of La Scala di Milan.

Reviving the european musical tradition of the 19th century in the city of Hermoupolis, the Festival offers a unique experience for classical music lovers. Alongside, it is an excellent option for those wishing to combine their sea-and-sun holidays in the Cyclades with a classical music event of excellence.