Pantelis Stoikos is one of the most creative trumpeters in the contemporary Balkan world jazz scene. He first became involved with music in 1990 and in 1994 had his first trumpet lessons alongside learning the piano. He continued his studies at the New Conservatory of Thessaloniki and won distinctions in many areas of music. He focuses on the sounds of his region, Macedonia, expanding this music with jazz and classical music styles. Since 1997 he has collaborated with the Florina Brass Band and a large number of groups and artists from traditional music, jazz, improvisation, contemporary music, etc. The Trio Balkano, with Lakis Tzimkas on bass and Alexandros Papadopoulos on drums emerged from his duo Improvisation in Balkan Jazz. The band is pushing back the boundaries of tradition and entering the realm of contemporary jazz with its own identity.