Lyre Camp Draws 50 Students to Mount Olympus
The third annual camp taught the ancient Greek lyre to participants from 11 countries over two week-long sessions.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Medieval and Renaissance
In September 2026, 50 participants from 11 countries attended the third annual Lyre Camp, held on Mount Olympus for the first time. The camp combined practical lyre lessons with philosophy, history and group music-making.
Why it matters
The camp reflects growing international interest in reviving ancient Greek instruments, a trend tied to the rise of online lyre instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Organisers have since filled all places for the first week of the 2027 camp.
Organisers reported 50 participants from 11 countries across two week-long sessions of 25 students each in September 2026. All 25 places for the first week of Lyre Camp 2027 are already filled, though the source does not give the status of the second week.
The players
SEIKILO Museum of Ancient Music
A museum in Thessaloniki that holds weekly ancient Greek lyre lessons and documents the revival of ancient music.
Lyre Academy
The world's first online platform offering ancient Greek lyre lessons in English, launched in 2020.
The details
Each day began at 8am with readings from ancient philosophy accompanied by the lyre. Students joined group lessons divided into beginner, advanced and highly advanced levels, with afternoon one-to-one tuition available from one of three instructors.
Timeline
2014: Reconstruction of ancient Greek instruments began in Europós, Kilkis.
2020: The Lyre Academy, an online platform for ancient Greek lyre lessons in English, launched.
September 2026: The third annual Lyre Camp was held on Mount Olympus.
Big Picture
The camp extends the lyre reconstruction work that began in 2014 in Europós, Kilkis, moving the revival of ancient Greek instruments from workshops and online courses into a residential teaching format. Its growth follows the Lyre Academy's 2020 launch, which made the instrument accessible to English-speaking learners worldwide.
Students from around the world can now apply to attend an in-person ancient Greek lyre course, though the first week of the 2027 camp is already full. The camp's residential format offers a direct route to learning the instrument beyond online lessons.
The takeaway
Interest in reviving ancient instruments is drawing learners into hands-on study, combining technical skill with philosophy and history. Those interested in the lyre can begin with online lessons or local workshops before attending an in-person course.
What happens next
Organisers are expected to announce a second week of Lyre Camp 2027 shortly.
Further reading
Explore more Medieval and Renaissance music coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Greek City Times.
