Born in December 2011, Thodoris Filippopoulos is one of the youngest Greek musicians. This Monday (December 15, 2025), he will perform Dmitri Shostakovich’s 2nd Piano Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra of Athens at the Athens Conservatoire, in the concert “Northern Memories.” He is currently the youngest musician we have featured in the column “Young Virtuosos Introduce Themselves.”
When and how did you first come into contact with music?
My first contact with music was when I was 6 years old. As a rather lively child, I wanted to find something I could seriously engage with. One evening, while drawing, I heard the first movement of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony for the first time. What I remember is that I was impressed and decided that I too wanted to pursue music, specifically classical music.
Who or what prompted you to pursue music professionally?
What prompted me to pursue music professionally was my truly great desire to do so, as well as the support I received from my parents and those around me, such as my friends.
How did you choose the instrument you pursued?
Initially, I knew that most people who want to learn a musical instrument usually choose the piano. This was a factor that led me to choose to learn this particular instrument. Although I know I haven’t chosen anything unusual, I must tell you that it is an instrument that requires a lot of time to reach a high level, like those great musicians such as Richter or Horowitz, whom we all admire.
Where did you study and which teachers shaped you?
I began my studies at the Athens Conservatoire, in the class of Ms. Sofia Dousia-Myrat, to whom I am indebted for the musical education she offered me and who supported me greatly throughout my journey. Since we started lessons, there hasn’t been a single day when I haven’t been eager to have a lesson. For me, for a teacher to succeed in keeping their student’s interest is something very difficult, almost impossible nowadays.
Have you participated in competitions? Was there any one that decisively propelled you into your professional career?
I have participated in competitions where I have won top awards, such as the “De Bach au Jazz” competition, “Tasos Pappas” in Thessaloniki, and “Filonas,” where I won first prize in my category as well as the Mary Kerani-Sofianou award, which is the highest distinction of the competition across all levels. I also had the opportunity to participate in the Summer School organized by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, where I won first prize in the junior category of the Competition held at the end of the Summer School. However, when I participated in my first competition, I had already decided that I wanted to pursue music professionally.
When and where did you make your first public appearance?
My first public appearance took place in the Foyer of the Athens Concert Hall in 2023 as part of the “Piano Days” program, which is two days exclusively dedicated to the piano. It was a very nice experience.
Which of your performances to date will remain unforgettable?
A performance I will never forget is my concert in Nafplio, as part of the Nafplio Festival. It was a fantastic evening. Among the audience was the renowned pianist Jean-Louis Steuerman, whom I had the honor of meeting at the end of the concert. Also, another performance I will not forget was the recital for two pianos I gave with Filippos Klapsinakis in the “Dimitris Mitropoulos” Hall at the Athens Concert Hall in 2024. It was thrilling.
What are your preferences in choosing your repertoire? Favorite works, composers… Which repertoire do you feel suits you best?
My repertoire preferences are the Romantic era and the contemporary era. However, I believe I am better at performing works from the contemporary era, but I do very well in both fields. I don’t have a specific favorite composer, as each has their own charm and style. But I deeply love the music of Brahms, Beethoven, Ravel, Messiaen, Rachmaninoff, and many others.
What musical dream would you like to fulfill?
One dream I want to fulfill is to perform works such as Messiaen’s Turangalîla Symphonie, Bartók’s 1st Piano Concerto, and Liszt’s Piano Sonata.
How would you suggest we approach young people to get them involved in classical music?
One way to engage young people with classical music would be through classical music concerts, books that provide information about this genre, and the musical education a parent could offer their child.
What difficulties does a young musician face in Greece and the world today?
Some of the difficulties a musician faces in Greece can be the remuneration, which bears no relation to what an average citizen in Greece should earn, as life has become very difficult in many ways nowadays. Musicians’ pay is not always enough to survive normally, to be able to escape the routine and do something for themselves. A second problem is that classical music is a genre to which Greek culture is not accustomed, meaning that only a small percentage attends such concerts.
Besides music, what are your favorite activities?
In my free time, I usually read books, play board games, or go out with my friends, but I make sure to finish my obligations before doing all these things.
What are your goals for the future?
In the future, I intend to participate in major competitions and gain global recognition. I also want to travel to several countries to better understand the world around me. Finally, a performance I really want to give is at the Berlin Philharmonic, as it is my favorite concert hall.
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Biography
Thodoris Filippopoulos was born in December 2011 in Athens and began his first steps on the piano at the age of 7. He is a student in the Advanced Piano School of the Athens Conservatoire in the class of Ms. Sofia Dousia-Myrat. He has participated in masterclasses with distinguished professors (N. Michailidou, M. Efstratiadou, Chr. Papageorgiou, O. Kern, D. Evnouchidou, etc.), and has taken part in national competitions, where he won top awards in his category: Music Arte 2022 (Category B2), 1st prize; De Bach au Jazz 2023 (Category D), 2nd prize; Tasos Pappas 2023 (Category C1), 1st prize and the Tasos Pappas award for all categories; Filonas 2024 (Category C1), 1st prize and the Mary Kerani Sofianou Award for all categories. In July 2023, he gave his first recital in Nafplio, where he performed works by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, and Gershwin, while in January 2024, he gave a recital for two pianos at the Athens Concert Hall with Filippos Klapsinakis, in which they played works by Shostakovich, Dvorak, Gershwin, and Milhaud. Also in 2024, he received a scholarship from the British Embassy to participate in the Summer Camp organized by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, where he took part in masterclasses with distinguished professors, such as Fali Pavri, and participated in the competition, winning the top award. He is passionately devoted to Music and very interested in literature.
