Dimitris Patras, born in Thessaloniki, Greece, has been established as a first rank greek performer of our times. Having studied the cello near eminent artists such as F. J. Sellheim (Hannover, Germany) and André Navarra (Vienna, Austria) he then set off his career performing in the biggest halls of Greece and the rest of Europe. A career highlighted by innumerable participations in musical events; he has performed as a soloist with major orchestras, and collaborated with celebrated conductors and musicians throughout Europe.
His repertoire overspreads from early baroque to the works of many composers of our time, some of them written especially for him to perform. He plays not only in symphonic concerts, solo and chamber music recitals, but has also participated as a soloist in contemporary theater, dance and multi-media performances. Dimitris Patras has been the principal solo cellist of the Thessaloniki Symohony State Orchestra from 1989 to 2003.
Apart from his performing accomplishments, Dimitris Patras’ love of teaching his art has led him to teach in various international master classes throughout Europe. He is for 25 years the Dean of the Cello Department in the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki.
In 2003 Dimitris Patras was appointed Professor of Violoncello in the Department of Music Science and Art at University of Macedonia, Greece-Hellas. Since then he has successfully led a great number of students in completing their cello studies in Greece. Recently he formed the chamber orchestra “Violoncellissimo”, which consists of 30 and more cello players, all of them graduates from his cello class, thus wanting to show the vast possibilities of the sound of the cello, that can successfully even replace the sound of a symphonic orchestra.