Varvara Gyra was born in Ioannina, Greece, and has been living in Paris since 1998. She has won the following International Prizes:

    The 1st Prize of the International Guitar Competition of the UFAM in Paris (France, 2001), the Prize of the International Guitar Competition of Ile-de-Ré (France, 2002), the 2nd Prize of the International Guitar Competition of Fontainebleau (France 2002), and the 1st Prize of the Pan-Hellenic Guitar Competition of Ioannina (Greece, 1993).

    Varvara GYRA has performed in various countries, such as France, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria and Greece and has performed as a soloist with the Orpheus Orchestra of Sophia and with the Classical Orchestra of Mexico. She has received enthusiastic reviews from the international press and the public, especially for her recitals at the National Art Center of Mexico and at the Cabañas Institute - Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.

    The compact disc «La Guitarra en 3 Continentes» includes a live recording of her at the 8th International Guitar Festival of Capilla (Conaculta -Helenico, Mexico City 2006). Varvara GYRA has recorded the disc « Live! 2003 » which includes a part of her recitals and has also participated in the recording of Francis Kleynjans’ work for guitar that will be produced in 2007 in France.

    Varvara GYRA has obtained the Diploma of the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and studied the guitar in Paris with Roland Dyens (École ATLA), Francis Kleynjans (Conservatoire Nadia and Lili Boulanger), and Alberto Ponce (Ecole Normale). She began to study the guitar in Epirus (Greece) with I. Konsta, H. Tasoulas and E. Boudounis, and at the age of 19 obtained the Guitar Diploma with honours (Excellent unanimously – 1st Prize).

    She has been awarded scholarships by the Academy of Athens, the Alexandros S. Onassis Foundation, the National Scholarship’s Foundation (IKY-Greece), the Ioannina Welfare Foundation and the Filiteios Foundation.

    Varvara GYRA has obtained a Master in Musicology (DEA - University of Paris VIII), a Diploma in Musicology (Ionian University), and a Diploma in Counterpoint and Harmony (J. Papadatos). She teaches in Paris and she is actually preparing a Doctoral Dissertation in Musicology at the University of Paris VIII which is dedicated to the work of the Greek composer Yannis Christou (1926-1970).