She studied the guitar in Paris with Roland Dyens at the École ATLA, with Francis Kleynjans at the Conservatoire Nadia et Lili Boulanger (DEM), and with Alberto Ponce at the École Normale de Musique de Paris (Soloist Diploma). She has been awarded scholarships by the Academy of Athens, the A. S. Onassis Foundation and the State Scholarships Foundation (Greece).

Varvara Gyra has won the 1st Prize of the International Guitar Competition of the UFAM in Paris (2001), the Prize of the International Guitar Competition of Ile-de-Ré (2002), the 2nd Prize of the International Guitar Competition of Fontainebleau (2002), and the 1st Prize of the Pan-Hellenic Guitar Competition of Ioannina (1993).

She has performed in various countries, such as Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, and has performed as a soloist with the Orpheus Orchestra of Sophia and with the Classical Orchestra of Mexico. She has also collaborated with the actors Anouk Aimée, Nicole Garcia, Lluis Homar, Charlotte Rampling, Polydoros Vogiatzis and Lambert Wilson.

Varvara Gyra presents her concerts in English, French, German, Greek and Spanish and in 2007 she started singing during her concerts. She has produced two CDs: The guitar in 3 continents (Ministry of Culture, Mexico 2006) and Live! 2003 (self-production). She has also participated in the recording of Francis Kleynjans’ work for guitar.

Varvara GYRA is a Ph. D. in Musicology (University of Paris VIII) and she has been carrying a thesis on the work of the Greek composer Jani Christou (1926-1970). She has obtained a Master in Musicology (University Paris VIII), a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Ionian University), and a Diploma in Counterpoint and Harmony. Her website includes the impressions of her trips with the guitar: http://www.varvaragyra.com/