He was born in Piraeus on 14/1/1914. He studied piano at the Conservatory of Piraeus. He attended higher music theory classes at the Athens Conservatoire under Philoctetis Economidis and Dimitri Mitropoulos, graduating with a diploma in harmony (1930-1933). In 1938, a scholarship from the Italian government took him to Rome to study under Alfredo Cazella. He composed vocal and orchestral works (Prosefchi stin Akropoli (Prayer on the Acropolis), Concert for piano and orchestra, etc.), as well as chamber music. He wrote music for dance inspired by Ancient Greece (1942-1969), as well as for six productions of ancient drama which were staged in ancient Greek theaters and abroad (1949-1964). He taught at the Conservatory of Piraeus (1933-1986) and the Athens Conservatoire (1962-1986), also being elected Chairman of the Board (1986-2006) and lifelong honorary president. He founded the Greek Cultural Society (1973) and the Choir of Piraeus, and has been director of the Choir of Athens and conductor of the National Theatre. He was a regular member of the Academy of Athens (1969-2012), serving as secretary for the minutes (1977-1980), while also being general secretary (1984-1989) and president (1983). In 1983 he was elected a member of the Tiberian Academy of Rome. In 1996 he was named an honorary Doctor of the Music Department of the University of Athens. He was awarded the rank of the Grand Liaison Officer the Great Church of Christ. He received the Gold Medal of the City of Paris, was made Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, received the Golden Cross George I, and was made Grand Commander of the Greek Republic Phoenix. He has been General Director of the GNO (1964-1967) and chairman of its board (1974-1976). During his tenure, he carried on Kostis Bastias’ effort to enrich drama repertoire by introducing works by Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Prokofiev, Bartok, Lortzing, Boito, Giordano, Ibert. He also invited leading international directors and soloists for performances at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.