Senior Adam Theodorou has certainly made an impression on the KO community as a talented musician, having served as the principal cellist in KO’s Upper School orchestra since his freshman year.
Adam started playing the cello when he was seven years old after his father started taking him to Hartford Symphony concerts. “I was so inspired by how the cellists would play and decided that I wanted to do it as well,” he said.
Adam made a strong first impression on orchestra director Richard Chiarappa. “The first time he joined us, I knew right away that he had really studied and practiced the cello,” Mr. Chiarappa said. “He was able to produce a quality of sound beyond what most ninth-graders are capable of.”
Adam assumed the role of principal cellist his freshman year when there were only two other cellists. Currently, however, the KO orchestra boasts several other cellists, including musicians who are learning online, that all follow his example. “Recently, I have given the cellists more challenging pieces to learn,” Mr. Chiarappa said, “but I know that Adam is fully capable of leading them to rise to the level needed.”
Adam’s first impression of the orchestra at KO was a strong one, especially since it was the year they were able to collaborate in concert with visiting German music students. “It was my first concert at KO, and it was such a good first experience here,” he said. “It’s also probably one of the things I will remember the most about my time at KO.”
Along with playing in KO’s orchestra, Adam takes private cello lessons and is also a member of the Connecticut Youth Symphony (CYS). “I think my favorite piece that I played was when I played Beethoven’s Third Symphony with CYS,” he said.
Playing cello has opened up several opportunities for Adam to explore more about music. “I traveled to Italy to participate in a music camp where we spent two weeks playing chamber music and exploring Tuscany,” he said. “It was an amazing experience.”
Because of the pandemic, many ensembles have had to adapt to a different style of rehearsal. “A lot of it is more individualized, so I am able to focus on my individual instrument techniques that I might not have thought about as much,” Adam said.
This year, Adam is a soloist in a Haydn concerto the orchestra is planning to record some time in April. “I had an idea for Adam to play a solo during a concert for a while now, and I thought now would be the time to do it, since he is a senior,” Mr. Chiarappa said. While not being able to perform live is certainly something that Adam misses, the opportunity to record is also exciting.
“If I had to pick my favorite part of playing the cello it would be mastering a beautiful piece and playing it in front of everyone during a concert,” he said. Adam doesn’t anticipate his passion for music and cello fading in the future. He is attending Colby College where he hopes to be able to join a chamber group or play as a hobby. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors and know that his passion for music will shine through!
