Smiling, meek and deep thinking. These are just some of the adjectives that describe it. Noti Mavrudiwho is one of the most important personalities of the Greek music scene and unfairly “left” his life on Tuesday evening after a fatal injury.

The kindness, the spark in his eyes and the passion for his work I was lucky to see up close more than 20 years ago when as a child and in the choir I performed some of the songs he wrote for the famous album”Paper boat» (1995).

Thessaloniki, spring 2002. In the assembly hall 1st and 2nd Panorama Elementary SchoolMusician Athanasios Bililis announces to a group of children about participation in 1st Primary School Choir Festival who organized the 3rd PE office. Eastern Thessaloniki under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education. Our joy and sorrow are indescribable.

A total of 15 schools in the city and region will perform three songs by Greek composers and, in the end, two songs by Mavroudis, as a tribute to his musical career. In fact, the composer himself conducted the choir on stage.

The day before the event, hundreds of students wait on the stage of the Music Hall in Thessaloniki for Noti Mavroudis to start the dress rehearsal of the section dedicated to his work. He comes on stage in a good mood, thanks us and is touched when we perform his musical works. He laughs heartily when we rush to sing a verse or shout it out loud. I look at him in awe, I don’t want to miss a single moment of his words and advice for the best sound result.

Saturday, June 8 of the same year. The main part of the evening is over and it is time for common songs. The full hall applauds N. Mavrudis, A. Bililis (piano) and G. Kokkinakis (accordion).

Starting with “Paper Boat”. “Our palm counts the money / the blind goddess pities / and the child counts and speaks / every truth that burns us,” we sing. And we see how the composer “swells” with pride. He leads with love and tenderness.

Follow-up with “Baron Munchausen”, a song with rather “serious” – for children – lyrics, but at a fast pace that turns on. To make it more indicative, Notis Mavrudis suggests doing hand movements like a little choreography and clapping your hands. It makes sense to us and we follow.

Serious but happy, he bows once more to the audience, and the festival closes with a small feast in the dressing rooms.

The artistic legacy that he leaves behind is enormous. From his 25 personal records and “Cafe de l’art” covers to his poetic settings, the award-winning composer, writer and radio producer stood out for the stories his music “told”. I feel only gratitude and honor for being a very small part of his professional journey.