https://ileananikitakis.com/home daily 1.0 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e21d85cc05cb37e6e375053/ae54b850-f97d-4f20-abe5-f84abb84e42f/IMG_0241.JPG Home - Ileana Nikitakis is a fiddle player, violinist and songwriter. In recent years, Ileana mostly played country and western swing with various bands around Central Texas, as well as touring in the US. She currently records for various artists and teaches violin and fiddle lessons. She is currently embarking on a new project to rediscover songs she wrote a long time ago, as well as writing new songs. https://ileananikitakis.com/teaching daily 0.75 2023-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e21d85cc05cb37e6e375053/b7e7d01a-2767-4716-9984-12f36e915fd0/Teaching+images+for+website+copy.jpg Teaching https://ileananikitakis.com/sessions/live daily 0.75 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e21d85cc05cb37e6e375053/1597495708339-1U3SDVAB0OQ72GUHL0V5/Website+Collage+for+Sessions%3ALive.jpg Sessions/Live - Ileana has been playing with bands since she was ten years old. It started in Cologne, Germany, when she auditioned for a band consisting of nine kids. After the first rehearsal weekend, she was hooked, and has played with bands ever since. Over the past years, Ileana has recorded and performed with various artists, and played for private events. Most recently she recorded for the upcoming EP of The Merles, a country band based in Austin, TX and for singer/songwriter Paul Wright. She has also worked with The Drew Fish Band, David Lee, Jimmy Kelly, Allan Hendrickson, Nick Nikitakis, Jeremy Steding, Hartley Hall, The Nikis, and more. Contact Ileana, for more information about remote session work and booking shows. https://ileananikitakis.com/bio daily 0.75 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e21d85cc05cb37e6e375053/10c96a47-8d3d-49ab-958c-32bb4194f411/IMG_1065.jpeg Bio - Is it a fiddle or a violin? A question Ileana Nikitakis is asked often, but only has one answer to: Both! Ileana caters to a variety of styles including country, swing, bluegrass, and classical music. Having grown up in Cologne, Germany in a musical household, Ileana started taking classical violin lessons at the age of six. She joined the first band at the age of ten; a cultural project, formed by the “SK Stiftung für Kultur” (SK Foundation of Culture), coached by Vassilios Nikitakis. The band was formed to keep the traditional music of Cologne alive and to pass it on to the younger generation. Throughout her teenage years, Ileana played in various formations of the band, as they explored various styles such as the traditional music of Cologne from the 20s through the 50s, blues, country, jazz, and world music. As part of her Greek heritage, Ileana grew up playing rebetiko music (a style of Greek music). Before she moved to Austin, TX in 2012, she played with Vassilios Nikitakis, Jimmy Kelly, and the Blue Armadillos, a duo she formed with Jan Flemming, while being coached by Vassilios Nikitakis to expand her musical knowledge. Shortly after moving to Austin, TX in 2013, Ileana graduated with a degree in music, and played with the Nikis, a band she formed with her sister Alexia. Throughout the years, Ileana worked for several Country, Bluegrass and Swing bands as a fiddle player in Central Texas, as well as recording and playing solo violin at weddings and events. She played with the Drew Fish Band, Anthony Garcia, Allan Hendrickson, Jeremy Steding, and various other bands. Over the years, she recorded for The Merles, Allan Hendrickson, Hartley Hall, Hot Texas Swing Band, and more. Growing up, Ileana Nikitakis listened to the music of the Del McCoury Band, Miles Davis, Carole King, Vivaldi, Vassar Clements, Alison Krauss, Itzhak Perlman, Stéphane Grappelli and many more. These different influences have shaped her way of approaching the instrument. In recent years, Ileana mostly played country and western swing with various bands in Austin, Texas, but never lost touch with the music she grew up with: Rebetiko, the Blues, the music of Cologne and classical music. Her interest in a wide variety of musical genres was influenced by her father, Vassilios Nikitakis, who always encouraged her to listen to as many different fiddlers and violinists as possible. He also inspired her to study songwriting, guitar playing and jazz violin. She currently teaches violin lessons, plays shows in Texas, and records for artists in various places. Ileana is also working on rediscovering the songs she wrote a long time ago… Photo by Alexia Nikitakis https://ileananikitakis.com/contact daily 0.75 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e21d85cc05cb37e6e375053/69d1de36-2be2-4729-aea9-fddfc83a31a2/OCEAN+EDIT.jpeg Contact - Contact me. Email me for more information about session work, violin/fiddle lessons, and shows. I look forward to hearing from you! hello@ileananikitakis.com https://ileananikitakis.com/shows daily 0.75 2023-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e21d85cc05cb37e6e375053/8d76e919-3775-4d70-a42c-b8666ac8718a/TOPANGA+EDIT.jpeg Shows - Upcoming Shows October 14th, 2023 Private Event with Drew Fish October 28th, 2023 Private Event with Jonathan Moody November 3rd, 4th, 5th, 2023 Ileana Nikitakis - Playing the Lost Songs from the Past @High Sierra Bar & Grill in Terlingua, TX November 10th, 2023 Fish Fest with the Drew Fish Band November 12th, 2023 With Oli Rajamani CD Release @Paramount 7 pm November 18th, 2023 With Sour Bridges Opening for Midnight River Choir @Gruene Hall Contact Ileana for more information about remote session work and booking shows at hello@ileananikitakis.com. Photo by Alexia Nikitakis https://ileananikitakis.com/music daily 0.75 2023-02-16