Doukakis Spyridon (Doukades, Corfu 1888 - 1974)

Great conductor of the Ionian Islands. He study music at his early age in Philarmonmic Society Mantzaros from 1899 (lately the philarmonic gave him an sponsorship in order to complete his studies in music abroad). He enter to the philarmonic as a trumpet player on 1900. After he studied in Bologna (diploma in band conducting in 1920) and in Music School Verdi of Milano (diploma of orchestra conducting). Also he took a master degree in Berlin. He was the conductor of Mantzaros (from 1.1.1912 to 31.1.1924). From 1924 he was conductor of Philarmonic Society of Corfu (since 1937). On 1929 he was invited to Leukada in order to lead the philarmonic of leukada to great success, but due to his demands he made a fight with the teacher of the philarmonic Sot. Arakleidis (Xydis), who made a bad situation against Doukakis. So Doukakis was made to left Leulada after some days. On 1937 he was conductor of Philarmonic of Capital ADministration and (accompanied by Sp. A. Bifernos) he conduct the Athens Philarmonix of Police (he remained in this position till 1961). Parallel to that, on 1959 he undertake the trying of reorganization of the Music School of Corfu. He created a smaill symfonic orchestra by angage musician of the National Opera of Greece (T. Kokkolios, etc.) and he gave concerts with music piece from opera - operetes universal repertoire. As a trumbet playter he played once under the conducting of Arturo Toscanini and as a conductor he conducts concerts of great extend ( at the Kroll Theater and at the Beethovan Saal of Berlin). It is mentioned that he conducts without seeing the partitures of the conductors, as he used to remember in his mind al the music that he conducts. According to F. Paramythiotis, he conduct in the municipal trheater of Corfu some passsing greek operatic theaters. As a composer he write music for band, for synfonic orchestras, for choirs, for operetes and he also compose music for ensembles. From them the most special that should be mentioned are the march named Cyprus (written on 1956) nad also the many times performed from a band "Melodiki Skepsi" and "Vals CHaractiristikon". His music was broadcast by the Berlin radiostation and many of them were performed in Corfu. Some of his students were Nikolaos Koskinas, Spyros Xiromeritis, and also the unforgettable George Peroulis.