Dimitris Semsis
Bio
Born in Munich in 1959, he is descended from a family whose musical roots can be traced to the beginning of the 19th century. Initially instructed by his father, Michalis Semsis, he later continued his violin studies with Tibor Varga and Otto Büchner at the Academies of Detmold and Munich, as well as with Alexander Pavlovich at the Academy of Belgrade. He holds diplomas from the “Athineon” Conservatory of Athens and the Royal College of Music, London.
For two years, he was a member of the renowned Munich Bach Orchestra, working under the baton of Carl Richter. For a decade he was concertmaster of the chamber orchestra ‘Camerata Hellenica’, which was founded by his father. He subsequently became concertmaster of the ‘Camerata - Friends of Music Society Orchestra’, which he co-founded and worked for until June 1997. As a soloist, he has collaborated with both symphonic and chamber music orchestras and appeared in multiple countries, including Greece, France, Switzerland, Italy, Ukraine, Serbia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey, the US, Romania and Belgium. Moreover, he is a founding member of the piano trio ‘Opus I’, with which he has presented numerous programmes in Athens and other Greek cities.
From January 1999, he was concertmaster of the National Radio Orchestra. He remained in that position until October 2003, at which point he assumed the same position at the Athens State Orchestra.
He has participated in educational programmes for youths and children, both at Megaron - The Athens Music Hall and in various places across Greece. Moreover, he has participated in open lessons whose purpose was to introduce and familiarise young people with music. In 2011, he became artistic director and conductor of the ‘Friends of Music Society Youth Orchestra’. The orchestra has performed at Megaron - The Athens Music Hall, and the Music Hall of Thessaloniki, as well as participated in numerous festivals and educational programmes in multiple major Greek cities. He held this position until 2018, when he became the orchestra’s honorary conductor. He currently teaches the violin at the Orfeio Conservatory of Athens.
Dimitris plays on a Lorenzo Storioni violin that was made in Cremona in 1794.
Partnerships with the Athens State Orchestra
Symphonic Concerts
70 years of the Athens State Orchestra: a celebratory concert
Fri. 01 March 2013, 20:30
Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall
Chamber Music Concerts
Works for violin and piano
Mon. 14 November 2016, 20:30
The Benaki Museum - Museum of Greek Culture (Koubari str.)
Τhe concert is free for those who have purchased the entrance ticket to the museum.
Chamber Music Concerts
Musical promenades at the Museums – Romantic pages for violin and piano
Mon. 15 April 2019, 20:30
The Benaki Museum - Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika Gallery
To attend the concert, audience must purchase a ticket for the entrance to the Museum.
Chamber Music Concerts
2021 12 27 Trio Opus I
Mon. 27 December 2021, 20:30
B & M Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts and Music
Ticket price: 10 € and 5 € (concessions)
On Tour
2022 07 08 The Athens State Orchestra in Crete, 1st concert in Heraklion
Fri. 08 July 2022, 21:00
Concert within the events of Crete Festival
In collaboration with the Region of Crete
With the support of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion
Archaelogical site of Knossos
Free entrance with mandatory reservation. Reservations at TICKET SERVICES
tel: 2107234567 – online: www.ticketservices.gr.
On Tour
2022 07 09 The Athens State Orchestra in Crete, 2nd concert in Heraklion
Sat. 09 July 2022, 21:00
Concert within the events of Crete Festival
In collaboration with the Region of Crete
With the support of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion
Archaelogical site of Knossos
Free entrance with mandatory reservation. Reservations at TICKET SERVICES
tel: 2107234567 – online: www.ticketservices.gr.
On Tour
2022 07 10 The Athens State Orchestra in Crete, concert in Chania
Sun. 10 July 2022, 21:00
Concert within the events of Crete Festival
In collaboration with the Region of Crete
With the support of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion
Archaeological Museum of Chania
Free entrance with mandatory reservation. Reservations at TICKET SERVICES
tel: 2107234567 – online: www.ticketservices.gr.
Chamber Music Concerts
2024 10 07 Musical promenades: Musical Smyrna: a musical journey into time
Mon. 07 October 2024, 19:30
BASIL & ELISE GOULANDRIS FOUNDATION
Free entrance; electronic reservation is mandatory