Costas Baltazanis
8 Courses • 22 StudentsBiography
Costas Baltazanis is a seasoned composer, producer, guitarist, and educator with a global footprint in both performance and music education. A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied jazz guitar performance and composition, Costas brings over two decades of experience as a performing and recording artist, as well as a curriculum developer and academic leader.
As a session guitarist, Costas has contributed to more than 100 records and produced numerous albums for artists across a variety of genres. His performance career has taken him around the world, with appearances in the USA, Greece, Spain, Finland, Israel, Germany, Luxembourg, Cyprus, and Bulgaria. Along the way, he has shared the stage and studio with a diverse roster of acclaimed artists including Alex Foster, Arturo Sandoval, David Friedman, Jeff “Tain” Watts, James Genus, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, and The Mingus Orchestra.
Costas is also the founding member and principal composer of Iasis, a pioneering world fusion band formed in 1995. With a catalog spanning several albums—including releases on Lyra Records and Universal/Emarcy—Iasis has performed at major festivals and venues across Europe, establishing itself as a significant voice in the fusion genre.
In addition to his creative pursuits, Costas has played a vital role in music education. From 1995 to 2008, he served as the Head Director of the Modern and Jazz Music Department at Philippos Nakas Conservatory in Athens, Greece. There, he spearheaded the Berklee Study Abroad Program, aligning curriculum with Berklee’s International Network standards and serving on the Berklee College of Music Scholarship Committee in multiple countries.
He has authored three educational books on music and has taught at universities and conservatories across Greece, empowering a new generation of musicians with both traditional and modern music training. With a career that bridges performance, production, and education, Costas Baltazanis continues to inspire students and audiences alike through his innovative approach to music.
