Sylvia Constantinidis (born December 3, 1962) is a Venezuelan-American pianist, composer, and conductor.
Early life and education
Sylvia Constantinidis was born in Venezuela and began her study of music at an early age in Caracas. Her music teachers in Venezuela included Modesta Bor, Alberto Grau, Beatriz Bilbao and Isabel Aretz. She continued her studies in Paris at the Ecole Martenot and the Sorbonne university in Paris. She worked as a pianist in Venezuela, playing with orchestras and touring, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Music from the Central University of Venezuela. In the 1990s, she graduated with a Masters in Piano Performance and later obtained a second Master in Music Theory and Composition, from the University of Miami. She also has a Diploma of Advanced Graduate Studies in Music from Boston University.
Career
Constantinidis received The Music Note Award 2003 for her three children's operas Lincoln, Ponce de Leon, and The First Thanks Giving, which premiered in Florida. She was awarded the "Educator of Note Award 2003" by the Ethel and W. George Kennedy Family Foundation, and the ASCAP Plus Award for Concert Music in 2009 and 2010. She serves as artistic director of the Omorfia Contemporary Ensemble and the Southeast Composers Chamber Orchestra. Constantinidis has served as President of the Southeast Chapter of the National Association of Composers (NACUSA) in the United States.
Awards and honors
Constantinidis list of grants, honors and awards include: "Global Music Award", Bronze Medal. Category: Protest Music. With the song and music video "Venezuela te Veremos Renacer" by Sylvia Constantinidis. March 3, 2018. "Artist Cultural Ambassador". "YLAI -Young Leaders of America- Professional Fellows Program Reverse Exchange" - U.S. Department of State Program. USA, Jan. 2018. "Artist-in-Residence". Visual Arts Multimedia & Sound Installations. Kroma Arts, USA, 2017. "Artist-in-Residence" -Fundacion Artistas Por La Paz -Venezuelan Foundation, 2016. "Urban Arts Berlin Award". Composition Visions included in International Compilation CD Synthesis, Recording Series, Vol 2. Berlin, Germany. July 2015. Educator of Note Honorable Mention. Young Patronesses of the Opera 20th Anniversary. South Florida, 2014. Fellow US Artist-Projects. United States Artist Program. Nominated by the Broward County Cultural Division. Florida, USA, 2012. ASCAP-PLUS AWARD –Concert Music-, ASCAP, 2010. 10th Latin Grammy, Nomination Best Classical Contemporary Composition for Macondo Poems on the ERM Masterworks of the New Era vol. 14. 2009. ASCAP-PLUS AWARD –Concert Music-, ASCAP, 2009. "International Award: ERM Media". Composition Macondo Poems included in International Compilation CD Masterworks of the New Era Recording Series, Volume 14, Jan 2007. "Featured Author", at the Miami International Book Fair. Three publications of Music Works for piano: Rubi & Stone Op.23, Suite Infantil Op.11, Impressions Op.13. Miami Dade College. Miami, 2006. "Grant Award", "THE EDUCATION FUND", Opera Adventure Project Disseminator Award. -Adapter Janet Duguay Kirsten at Claude Pepper Elementary School MDCPS 3. May 2006. "Grant Award", "THE EDUCATION FUND", Opera Adventure Project Disseminator Award.-Adapter Alina Mustelier at Claude Pepper Elementary School MDCPS "Educator of Note Award 2003", Music Educator of the Year Award, "Ethel and W. George Kennedy Family Foundation" and the Young Patronesses of the Opera, the Florida Grand Opera. For creatively motivating and inspiring young children in the field of music education, promoting the Opera field and the creation of Three Children Operas (original composition works), 2003. "Grant Award": GFWC Hialeah Womans Club. Conductor, String Youth Orchestra Program, Dec. 2002. Grant: "THE EDUCATION FUND" Opera Adventure Project Dissemination, May 2002. "Grant Award", "THE EDUCATION FUND" Opera Adventure Project, Jan 2001.
Selected works
Constantinidis composes for orchestra, chamber ensemble, theater and film scores. Selected works include: Pierrot et Colombine, Op. 68, Concerto for violin, marimba and orchestra, 2009 Cantos de Espanha, Concerto for harpsichord and orchestra, Op. 63, 2008-9 Treize Études, Op. 53, for orchestra, 2006-7 Études de Concert, Op. 52, for cello and piano, 2007 Études de Concert, Op. 51, for piano Macondo Poem, Op. 41, for Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet & Bassoon, 2005
Publications
Books
"Start Method", a collection of educational materials for piano, strings, voice, solfege, music theory and ear-training.