Faidra Giannelou was born in Athens. In 2008, she received her Bachelor-degree in the major of “Orchestral Conducting” from the Music Department of Ionian University under Prof. Miltos Logiadis, being the first Bachelor-degree holder in “Orchestral Conducting”, taken from a Greek university. In September 2010, she received her Master-degree from the same University and in January 2012, she was also admitted as a Ph.D. candidate.

She has been distinguished during her studies with scholarships and awards from the State Scholarship Foundation, the Ionian University and the Greek Ministry of Education. From January 2012, she is a scholar of the A.G. Leventis Foundation.

As an orchestra conductor, she has collaborated with symphony orchestras in Germany, Russia, U.S.A., U.K., Sweden, Estonia, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Croatia, Bulgaria,Turkey and Cyprus. In April 2012, she conducted a World Premiere of A. Georgiadis’ work “Transformation” in Berlin’s Konzerthaus with Camerata Europaea and in October 2013 she was a winner at the International Competition for Young Conductors “Solon Michaelides” organized by Cyprus Symphony Orchestra (2nd  prize – lack of 1st prize). In March 2015, she was invited to assist Kristjan Järvi on his spring tour with Baltic Youth Orchestra. In October 2016, she was appointed Resident Conductor of Chamber Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Contemporary Music Ensemble 3+ and for the year 2007-2008 she was the principal conductor of El Sistema Greece Youth Orchestra and invited Conductor in Opera Studio of Patras.

She has also conducted the Athens State Orchestra, Thessaloniki State Orchestra, Greek Radio Symphony Orchestra, Contemporary Music Orchestra of Greek Radio, Orchestra of Colours, Athens Municipality Symphony Orchestra, Kyklos Ensemble and Canadian Brass.

She has attended masterclasses of orchestral and choral conducting with Bernard Haitink, Kurt Masur, Jorma Panula, Peter Eötvös, David Effron, Benjamin Zander, Colin Metters, Kirk Trevor, Neeme Järvi, Mark Stringer, Nicolás Pasquet, Paavo Järvi, Leonid Grid, Johannes Schlaefli, Leonid Korchmar, Isaac Karabtchevsky, Diane Wittry, Johannes Gustavsson, Amaury du Closel, Lucas Vis, Oleg Proskurnya and many more.

As a choir conductor, Faidra has been conducting the Graduates’ Choir of the Music High School of Pallini since 2013. She is the conductor and founder member of the Music Educators’ Choir of Attiki “Choremus”. From July 202, she has been conducting Chios Choir. She has also collaborated with many choirs in Greece and Cyprus.

As a piano soloist, accompanist and correpetitor, she has appeared in numerous concerts, competitions and opera productions.

As an educator, Faidra has been working in the field of Music Education since 2008. During the academic year 2008-2009, she has worked as a music educator in a private Institute for early childhood educators. During the academic year 2009-2010 she has worked as a Choir Conductor in the Music High School of Alimos (Athens, Greece) and from 2010 she works as a Music Teacher in public primary schools in Athens. From September 2016, she is professor of Orchestral Conducting in the private conservatory AR in Heraklion, Crete. In July 2019 she became an assosiate professor at the Aegean University.

What is more, Faidra is giving masterclasses of Orchestral and Choir Conducting. In August 2015, she was Lecturer in a School Choir Masterclass for primary Music Educators, organised by the Greek Association of Primary Music Education Teachers (G.A.P.M.E.T) and in April 2016, she was invited to teach “Choir Conducting” to primary and secondary Music Educators, organised by the Greek Ministry of Education.