Theofilos Sotiriades was born in Thessaloniki (Greece) and graduated from the Faculty of Psychology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He graduated from the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki with the degree of the highest distinction (class of Vassilis Vradelis) and then as a scholar of the Foundation of the Greek State Scholarships, he studied in the “’Ecole Nationale de Musique de Créteil” in Paris, in the class of Georges Porte (first prize and special distinction about the interpretation of contemporary music). During his residence in France he won prizes in the European Music Contests “Picardie” and “Leopold Bellan”.
As a professional saxophonist he realized concerts in Europe, Ukraine and USA and officially participated in International Music Festivals and Congress such as LSU International Mini Festival of Art (USA), BGSU 27th New Music Festival (USA), XIX Festival Forfest Czech Republic, ΕlectroMediaWorks 2008 (Athens, Greece), XIII & XIV World Saxophone Congress (Minneapolis, USA and Ljubljana, Slovenia) and Odysseia Symposium (Georgia State University). As a soloist, Theofilos performed with the famous French Quintet of Saxophones of Paris, Louisiana Sinfonietta (USA), Neuchâtel Chamber Orchestra (Switzerland) and the State Symphony Orchestra of Thessaloniki (Greece).
Distinguished contemporary Greek composers have dedicated some of their works to him and he performed their world premieres (more than thirty). As a result of his deep interest for the promotion of the Hellenic music for saxophone, he recorded two compact discs: “Recollections” and “Theofilos Sotiriades and friends. Music for saxophone by Dinos Constantinides”. He also recorded American contemporary music for Newtertian Recordings and Magni Publications. As a researcher, he is actually completing a catalogue of all the saxophone works written by Greek composers.
Moreover, his artistic creativity covers a wide range of activities: artistic director of the Hellenic Festival of Saxophone and the Macedonian Saxophone Quartet, founding member of the Hellenic Association of Saxophone and creator of diverse ensembles: “Panas Duo” (saxophone & dance), “The guitarphone of Adolf Sax” (saxophone & guitar), “Aegean Duo” (saxophone & piano).
Passionate about teaching, Theofilos holds a position in the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki and Municipal Conservatory of Thermi, a contract job in University of Macedonia and teaches as a guest professor in Pelion Festival and the “Brache International music Days” (Germany). He also taught as a visitor professor in American Universities such as Georgia State, Rutgers and Kutztown. His obsessive belief about the social and educational dimensions of music as a mean for the improvement of our human life comes true as a long-term and strong collaboration with the UNESCO Chair of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the creation of the “kUkLuXsaX” orchestra (youth, non-professional saxophone orchestra).
Recently, he received his master’s degree of Music Performance from the studio of Dr. John Sampen in Bowling Green State University while he was working as an assistant professor of saxophone at the same institution.
Τhe current year 2010 became promoter as “Rico Artist” of the RICO company, one of the most prestigious companies of the world in producing high quality reeds for saxophone.