Theodoros Kotepanos was born in Athens. He studied piano at the National Conservatory with Aspasia Kanatsoulis, Krinos Kalomiris and Nelly Semitekolos, and theory with Valentinos Patrikidis, Leonidas Zora and Yannis A. Papaioannou.
He continued in Paris, on a French state scholarship, where he won the “first prize” for piano at the Conservatoire NSMDP (“National Conservatoire of Paris”) and prizes at the international competitions of Epinal and Athens (“Maria Callas”) under the tutelage of Venchislav Yankov. He was also awarded the “first prize” for chamber music (unanimously) and the “second prize” for music analysis by the Foundation. He also studied piano with Jacques Rouvier, Jean-Claude Pennetier and later, in seminars, with Maria Rosa Castro and Lev Vlasenko. In 1985 he took part in the great Chopin piano competition in Warsaw where he received excellent reviews and was invited to give recitals in Polish cities.
After musical studies that extended to many fields, such as higher theory, aesthetics, electroacoustic music, organ, orchestra conducting, etc., his presence in the Greek music scene is multifaceted. His recitals have thematic titles such as “In the Sanctuary of Romanticism”, “Colours in the Dark”, “Chopin in Illuminated Black”, etc.
He has collaborated playing organ with the K.O.A., Kamerata, the Orchestra of Chroma, and other orchestras, and has explored the use of organ technique in live electronic music. He frequently collaborates with lyrical artists. His collaboration with countertenor Aris Christofelis has been recorded on two CDs of lieder.
His tenure as assistant to Manos Hadjidakis (1987-1994) was the beginning of a fruitful engagement with orchestration, which has been his main activity ever since. He was engrossed in writing for every form of musical ensemble from folk to symphony orchestra.
His crowning achievement was the CD “The Glow of the Moon” by Elli Paspala with M. Hadjidakis’ international selections for his chosen performer in 1988. Other important recordings include those on Christos Tsiamoulis’ “Dodecatorto”, Sonia sings Brel’s “Sonia sings Brel”, Sonia Theodoridou’s “Sonia sings Brel”, etc. Also noteworthy are the transcription of Grieg’s symphonic music “Peer Gynt” for live performance by a small ensemble in performances at the National Theatre, as well as the transcription of six dances by Skalkotas for six pianos, commissioned by the ensemble “Piandaemonium”.
In 2004 he founded Qua’SH (“Quartet of Senses and Hallucinations”), a peculiar ensemble dedicated to the performance of contemporary international alternative repertoire.
