Before I even met Domna, when I was seventeen years old, I already had a connection with her, meaning through her numerous albums. When I finally met her, she proved to be very close to my picture of her; and the basic fact was that she had immense patience with a seventeen year-old, like myself at the time, never ceasing to give advice on how every song, either those I knew or those she taught me, should be played; and Domna has played an equally important role as a teacher, that is, she has taught me a large number of songs.
She was indeed patient enough to advise me on every single detail on how a song should be played. This had a positive effect on my playing, but also on our collaboration. Despite the considerable age difference –I was a child and she was a grown woman, my teacher– she respected me; there was a mutual respect, which always plays a vital role in a teacher student relationship, and helps the student to overcome the insecurities he is faced with regarding his musical performance, his personality, and his own self.
Extract from the interview of Socrates Sinopoulos in Aigaio FM (1998).
