Theodore Kerkezos


Theodore Kerkezos is a Greek classical saxophonist.

Biography

“…one of the most astounding performers of the day.” Gramophone
He has performed and recorded the entire standard repertoire for solo saxophone with orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, “Tchaikovsky” Moscow Radio Symphony, Zurich Symphony, Boston Symphony, Vienna Chamber Orch., Berliner Symphoniker, Moscow Soloists, Athens State, "G.Enescu" Bucharest Philharmonic, appearing at halls such as: Carnegie Hall-New York, Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall - London, Great Hall of the “Tchaikovsky” Moscow State Conservatoire, Tonhalle-Zurich, Vienna Konzerthaus, Opera of Rome, Athens Megaron Concert Hall, Beijing Concert Hall and Herod Atticus Theatre.
He works with Yuri Bashmet, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Teodor Currentzis, Yuri Simonov, Michael Nyman.
Theodore Kerkezos has been awarded with the Honorary Doctor of Musical Arts from the IAACC/ UNESCO, for his outstanding services as performer and professor at the international music stage". In 2012 the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences & Arts and the United Nations along with the support of the Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice, unanimously elected him as Honorary Member'' of the Academy. In 2016 he was the "Artist of the Year" by the Gina Bachauer Awards.
He was twice nominated for the USA 50th Grammy Awards in New York proposed by Naxos label.
Theodore Kerkezos graduated from the Athens Conservatory and continued in Paris with Daniel Deffayet and in Bordeaux with Jean-Marie Londeix.
In 1999 he started a fruitful collaboration with the Alphonse Leduc Editions Musicales-Paris writing books for saxophone.
Works have been dedicated to him by leading composers such as Iannis Xenakis, Friedrich Cerha, and Mikis Theodorakis.
In 2000 he established and was the Director of the Saxophone Orchestra of Piraeus Prefecture, the unique in Europe State Orchestra in its kind.
He is a visiting professor giving master classes at Universities of: Boston, Princeton, Louisiana, Providence, Vienna State, at the Conservatories of: Boston, New England, Moscow State, and at the Academies of: Gnesin, Chopin and Kiev.
His discography with the London Symphony, London Philharmonic and Philharmonia has won many prestigious awards.

Most notable recordings

PERSONAL and AWARDED DISCOGRAPHY as CONCERT SOLOIST with orchestral accompaniment
Recordings as concert soloist with orchestral accompaniment