Charleston Reporter

Citing an institution's "rich music community," a College of Charleston associate professor of music theory and composition Yiorgos Vassilandonakis has been lauded for his success both internationally and at home with his musical score for the short film "Hamam."

The film has received a lot of buzz in the international independent film festival scene. It was an official selection at the Seoul International Indie Film Festival, the Roma Short Film Festival and was the featured film at the Tokyo Film Festival, according to a story about Vassilandonakis in the College of Charleston's The College Today.

The score was recorded by members of College of Charleston musical community, including music majors Eric Pickford (violin) and Maria Savelyeva (cello); artist certificate graduate Savannah Grace Cash (viola); adjunct faculty member Philip Lipton (clarinet) and music composition alumnus Matt Tuton ’15 (audio engineer and producer).

"Since I’m in the middle of this rich music community, I tailored the score to what I had available in terms of talent within the community," Vassilandonakis told The College Today. "It’s only natural to work with musicians who are close to you physically and geographically, as well as people you know how to work with. 

"I also thought it would be a great opportunity and experience for them. None of them had done this before, and the high pressure of recording in a studio is good experience to have."

Vassilandonakis has extensive experience and advanced degrees in composition and has scored several films in the 1990s.

"Hamam" is the story of a painting follows the story of its owners, their families, desires and destinies throughout the history of modern Greece.