Stelios Mihas is a guitarist, composer, and producer based in New York City, originally from Athens, Greece.
A multifaceted musician and producer best known for his versatile contributions to the music, Stelios has collaborated with a diverse array of artists and ensembles, showcasing his adaptability across genres and musical styles.
Inspired by the infinite sonic possibilities of the guitar, his activities range from contemporary music to classical guitar as well as a broad range of sounds & styles. Equally committed to the nylon as well as the electric guitar, he combines elements of both worlds in his music.
Among a plethora of great musicians and collaborators, Stelios has recorded/performed/toured with: Daniel Carter, William Parker, Irma Nejando aka Esperanza Spalding, Leo Genovese, Marcelo Toledo, Residente & Arooj Aftab.
After finishing classical guitar studies and earning a degree in Musicology in Athens, Stelios was awarded a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston. His journey to Boston was very much inspired by Mick Goodrick’s influential book ‘The Advancing Guitarist’ and made it his primary aspiration to study under Goodrick.
While in Boston, Mick’s ‘Thirty Six Pieces for Solo Guitar’ were published. Beyond its significant historical value, this work has profoundly influenced and informed Stelios’ approach and playing on the instrument.
In the past 10 years, Stelios has taken a DIY approach by self-producing albums under his 4D label, focusing particularly on improvised music. This endeavor underscores his commitment to exploring the spontaneous and creative aspects of musical performance, in a continuous effort to capture the essence of improvisation in
its purest form.
His passion project, Studio 4D, currently features 10 albums of improvised music—all self-produced and accessible on the Bandcamp site—with additional releases scheduled in the coming months featuring NYC based musicians.
Between May 2021 and May 2023, Stelios produced five albums documenting the improvised music scene in his hometown of Athens, Greece.
Besides his own projects, Stelios has produced critically acclaimed records for the 577 Label where a.o. he produced the music from the “tapes” of improvisations in post production.
In recent years, Stelios has delved into the realm of film scoring, emphasizing a live score approach. His credits include collaborations with the American Film Institute, and he received an award for his first feature score at The Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema.
An active music educator, he incorporates both classical traditions and contemporary/jazz practices into his lessons. Besides running his own guitar studio, Stelios has been on the faculty of the South Shore Conservatory in Boston and is currently part of the Ezra guitar program in NYC.
Relevant links:
Mick Goodrick 9 Early Pieces:
Stelios performs Mick Goodrick’s 9 Early Pieces
Studio 4D on Bandcamp:
https://4d-studio.bandcamp.com/
577:
https://www.577records.com/5806
With Marcelo Toledo:
With Residente:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMoZK-SUfMo
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