Sakis Rouvas, Helena Paparizou and Michalis Chatzigiannis were among the nominees for the Arion Music that was held last night in Athens. Helena, the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest winner was voted Best female singer and Sakis Rouvas, who represented Greece in Istanbul won in the Best Pop song category for Ola gyro sou gyrizoun. But the big winner of the evening was undoubtedly Michalis Chatzigiannis (Cyprus 1998) who picked up a total of six awards including the Best singer, Best song and Best album of the year topping his 2005 record.

The sixth edition of the Arion Music Awards was held last night in Athens. The live ceremony kicked off at 21.00 hours (local time) and ended long after mid-night. Among the countless number of nominees and winners some names are well-known to the Eurovision fans.

Sakis Rouvas, who represented Greece in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul and Helena Paparizou who won the contest in Kiev, wereboth nominated in three categories and won one each. Sakis Rouvas wasawarded with a prize of Best pop song of the year and Helena Paparizou with"Female singer of the year. However, neither of them were present at the event. The composerof Ola gyro sou gyrizoun, Dimitris Contopoulos together with the lyricist Vicky Gerothodorou, picked up the award on behalf of Sakisandthanked everyone who supported and voted for the song.

Sarbel, who represented Greecein Eurovision Song Contest earlier this year in Helsinki, was invited to announce the winner for the category "Laiko" (Folk) song of the year won by Michalis Chatziyiannis (Cyprus 1998) for Na eisai ekei. Tamta, who participated in the 2007 Greek final, was voted Newcomer artist of the Year 2007.

Once more Michalis Chatzigiannis won the majority of the awards confirming his popularity in Greece as well as in his native country, Cyprus. Michalis won in the following categories:

Best folk song of the year for Na eisai ekei
Best artistic song of the year for Den Fevgo
Best Pop album for Filoi kai echthroi
Best male singer of the year
Best song of the year for Ola I tipota
Best album of the year for Filoi kai echtroi

Marinela, the great lady of the Greek music scene, was awarded the Honorary Arion Award for her 40 year career. Marinela was the country’s first ever representative in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974.

You can find more detailed information later in the day by visiting the official website (in Greek) by clicking here.