Lina Tonia, is a young award-winning composer born in Greece, in 1985. Her work list includes more than 140 compositions for orchestra, ensembles, operas, chamber music and music for theatre that performed in Paris, Vienna, London, New York, Boston, Appleton, Delaware, Moscow, Weimar, Berlin, Edinburgh, Zagreb, Takefu, Sofia, Plovdiv, Tirana, Athens and Thessaloniki.

She has been awarded prizes in several national and international composition competitions for her works. Among others, she received the 1st prize at the 4th Jungerson International Composition Competition in Moscow (2007), the 3rd prize to the 2nd International “Ton de Leeuw” Composition Competition (2008), the Baerenreiter Award at the 12th International Via Nova Composition Competition in Weimar (2010), the 2nd prize to the 12th International “Via Nova” Composition Competition (2010), the title of “New Young Artist of the Year” from the Union of Greek Critics for Music and Theatre in Athens (2010), the 3rd prize to the 1st International “Alexander Myaskovsky” Composition Competition in Moscow (2012), the 3rd prize to the 1st International Composition Contest, Violas 2014 in Paris (2014), the 1st prize to the XII International Composition Competition FRANCISCO ESCUDERO (2019), the 2nd prize to GEDOK International Composition Competition 2020 organized for the 150th anniversary of Ida Dehmel in Munich (2020), the 3rd prize to the Salvatore Martirano Memorial Composition Award at the University of Illinois Urbana – Champaign (2023).

She awarded with the title “Composer of the Year 2020” from the Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists (FAMSPA) at the New York World Music Awards 2020.

She honored by the President of Republic of Greece, Karolos Papoulias in 2005 and also by the rector of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, prof. Anastastios Manthos in 2008 for her achievements in composition and the contribution to culture.

She was awarded from the Greek National Opera in Athens, for her chamber opera “The Expelled” (2012) and also at the same year from the Vienna University and Institute Kunsthaus of Muerz, for her work “Kivos” for 12 violoncellos (2012). Her solo work “Neuma” for viola awarded with the Sempre Piu Edition’s Prize in Paris (2014). Her chamber opera “Fear &(s) the Love” performed and awarded in Music Biennale of Zagreb (2015).

Her music has been commissioned and performed by many ensembles and orchestras including the Arditti Quartet, the London Contemporary Orchestra, the Jalas Chamber Orchestra, the Edinburgh Quartet, the Alea III ensemble, the Hebrides ensemble, the ensemble Marges, the Dissonart ensemble, the Greek National Opera, the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, the University of Delaware Symphony Orchestra, the State Orchestra of Athens, the State Orchestra of Thessaloniki and broadcasted on BBC Radio3.

Her 5th string quartet “ENNEA” took a premiered by the Arditti Quartet at the Konzerthaus in Mozart Saal in Wien Modern (2015) in Vienna.

She participated in many international composition workshops in USA, UK, Germany, France, including her selection at Manifeste Academy of IRCAM where she studied with Toshio Hosokawa, in Paris (2017).

She has been invited as guest composer and jury member at Piano Campus International Competition and commissioned to write her piano concerto “Les Mondes Flottants” to be performed as a compulsory piece at the final round of piano competition in Cergy Pontoise (2016). She was invited as guest composer by Toshio Hosokawa to the 29th International Takefu Music Festival to give a lecture for her music and get commissions for two new works, Etude for solo trumpet and Mare Imbrium for chamber ensemble. She was invited to give lectures for her music to the Ionia University of Corfu, Department of Music Studies (2017), to the University of Delaware, College of Arts & Science (2023) and to the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Music Studies (2023).

She studied composition (Bachelor and Master degree) at the Department of Music in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2003 – 2008), with Professor Christos Samaras. She completed a PhD in Composition in Edinburgh University with higher distinction (2008 – 2012) under the supervision of the professor Nigel Osborne and Michael Edwards. She continued to a second Master degree in composition with Michael Jarrell at the Vienna University (2012 – 2013). She worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Music Theory & Composition with a fellowship of the Research Committee of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2013 – 2014). She awarded with the fellowship of IKY foundation to work in a second postdoctoral research in subject “Analysis of the sound of Universe. A music Analysis around the Earth, Saturn and Jupiter” at the Department of Physics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2019 – 2021). During this postdoctoral research she was being in cooperation with the University of Iowa, Department of Physics, Department Physics and Astronomy. She was analyzing recorded sounds that comes from spacecrafts Van Allen Probes, and used the tone material to compose new works for orchestra and chamber ensemble.

She published her books “The Theory of Music” and “101 exercises of Harmony” by Panas Music Editions. Her music works published by Universal Editions.

She was founding member and artistic director of Meet the Art, artistic series of concerts and performances around Modern Art in Thessaloniki (2015 – 2016) and also founding member and artistic director of the 1st International Composition Competition Chalki 2020. She is a jury member at ENKOR International Music Competition from 2014.

She is teaching Composition in Macedonia University, Department of Music Art and Science, in Thessaloniki from September of 2016.

Music Associations
International Alliance of Women in Music (IAWM)
Union of Greek Composers
Vox Novus Composers
International Academy of Performing Arts and Sciences (IAPAS)

Jury Member at International Competitions
Jury Member of ENKOR International Piano and Violin Competition 2015 (Germany)
Jury Member of ENKOR International Piano and Violin Competition 2016 (Germany)
Jury Member of ENKOR International Brass and Woodwinds Competition 2016 (Germany)
Jury Member and Guest Composer of PIANO CAMPUS International Competition 2016 (Pontoise – France)
Jury Member of 1st International Composition Competition Y.A. PAPAIOANNOU 2016 (Kavala – Greece)

2019 – 2021
IKY Foundation Greek National fellowship for postdoctoral research at the Department of Physics in National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

2013 – 2014
Research Committee of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki for postdoctoral research in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

2009 – 2012
IKI Foundation Greek National Scholarship for postgraduate studies in Edinburgh University

2008 – 2009
AEPI Foundation in cooperation with the Union of Greek Composers for postgraduate studies in Edinburgh University

2002 – 2008
Triantafillia Kriezi Foundation for undergraduate studies in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

IRCAM Manifeste Academy, for orchestral composition leading by Toshio Hosokawa and Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, June 2017
in Paris.

Arditti’s Quartet Composition Workshop in Guildhall School of Music & Drama, April 2014 in London.
Chronographia for string quartet

Chamber Opera Workshop organized by Peter Eotvos Music Foundation (active participant), April 2013 in Budapest

5th Junges Deutsches Komponistenforum in cooperation with Via Nova
Paraphrase for guitar, violin, cello and accordion, November 2011 in Sonderhausen.

The University of Pennsylvania in 9th Workshop of Women Composers
The Garden With The Illusions for piano, March 2011 in Philadelphia

The University of Edinburgh in cooperation with Hans Abrahamsen
Diaphanous for Horn, Cello and Piano, March 2010 in Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh in cooperation with Marcus Weiss
Voyage (S) I, November 2010 in Edinburgh

Music and Architecture
Diathlasis for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, trumpet, percussion (1), violin,
viola, violoncello, contrabass, October 2010 in London

4th Junges Deutsches Komponistenforum in cooperation with Via Nova
Rodostama for flute and piano, October 2010 in Sonderhausen.

London Contemporary Orchestra
Prismatic for chamber ensemble, January 2009 in London.

ALEA III in cooperation with the Boston University
Prismatic for chamber ensemble, January 2009 in Boston.

Young Composer’s Workshop at the Concert Hall of Thessaloniki in
cooperation with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Deisis for chamber ensemble, May 2008

Young Composer’s Workshop at the Concert Hall of Athens in
cooperation with the Greek Composer’s Union
Nostalgic for violin and chamber ensemble, April 2007

Young Composer’s Workshop at the Municipal Conservatory of
Patra in cooperation with the Greek Composer’s Union
Ikesia IV for chamber ensemble, September 2006

2016 – now
University of Macedonia – Department of Music Art & Science
Part time lecturer in Composition and Aural Skills
Lessons: Composition, Aural skills – Solfege – Dictee

2012 – 2017
New Conservatory of Thessaloniki
Lessons: Composition, Counterpoint, Harmony, Music Theory, Solfege
and Dictee

2012 – 2013
State Conservatory of Greece
Lessons: Music Theory, Solfege and Dictee

2005 – 2008
Nakas Conservatory of Thessaloniki
Lessons: Harmony, Music Theory Solfege and Dictee

2006 – 2008
Municipal Conservatory of Thermi, Thessaloniki
Lessons: Harmony, Music Analysis, History of Music, Music Theory
Solfege and Dictee