After five successful years in schools across Athens, the educational programme 3rd Bell Opera, with ongoing support from Piraeus Bank, is set to travel beyond Athens for the first time, launching partnerships with major organizations in Thessaloniki and Ioannina, and aiming to further enhance its educational and artistic character by collaborating with established agents of art and education and by creating communication channels among schools, universities, and cultural organizations in both cities.

 This cross-artistic and pedagogical initiative for educators and students offers Primary Education schools the opportunity to explore the fascinating world of music theatre through a unique experience of collaboration, creativity, and artistic expression. Over the course of a school year, it introduces educators and students to modern music theatre practices, guides them step by step through the creative process, and leads them to experience the making of a complete music theatre performance.

The performances to be presented in Thessaloniki and Ioannina will be the artistic result of the educational programme 3^rd Bell Opera, made possible by a kind sponsorship from Piraeus Bank. The support for this educational programme is part of the Bank’s multifaceted Corporate Responsibility initiative, “EQUALL – For a Society of Equal People,” specifically in the pillar of events for the Young Generation, which aims to promote equal access and connect young people with Art and Culture.

In Thessaloniki, this year’s program is being implemented in collaboration with the Department of Music Studies of the School of Fine Arts at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the National Theatre of Northern Greece, and the Thessaloniki Concert Hall. At the heart of this educational programme lies the music theatre work Journey to the Land of the Ugly, an allegorical story that transports us to an incredible… shapeless destination. There, acceptance, solidarity, and equality take centre stage, starting with the odd world of Tetragonia, where emotions and deviations have been eliminated in the name of normalcy and uniformity. This piece is composed by Trevor Grahl, with a libretto penned by Andriana Minou. Erifyli Damianou conducts the instrumental ensemble, and the educational/artistic team includes Erifyli Damianou, Georgia Tenta, and Thanasis Bililis, collaborating with students from the Music Studies Department of the School of Fine Arts at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Direction is by Ioanna Mitsika, set design workshops are handled by Alexandra Bousoulegka and Rania Yfantidou, while the lighting of the performance is by Dimitra Aloutzanidou. The performance will be presented to the general public in June 2026 at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.

In Ioannina, the programme is carried out in partnership with the City of Ioannina, giving students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of music theatre, guided by a… cunning cat. The work, The Cat, based on a fairy tale from Eastern Thrace – a traditional, adventurous variation of the classic tale Puss in Boots –, invites students to sing, create rhythms and soundscapes, narrate, and play, using body percussion techniques to craft their own version of the story. The programme is supported by a team of artists and pedagogues with significant experience and a creative outlook.  Giorgos Kasavetis is responsible for the score, musical direction, and animation. He and Sofia Gretsi wrote the lyrics and texts. The educational/artistic team consists of Alexandros Dandoulakis, Eirini Tzamtzi, and Eirini Dimaki. The project will culminate in the presentation of the performance in May 2026 at the “Dimitrios Glaros” amphitheater of DIKEPPEE, before fellow students, parents, and the local community.