Philemon Theodorou

Philemon Theodorou is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Boise State University where he conducts the BSU Meistersingers, University Choir, Chamber Choir, and the Vox Angelis Women’s Choir.  He also instructs of courses in choral conducting and choral methodology.  Prior to his arrival in Idaho, he was Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia.  He began his teaching career in 1988 directing high school choral ensembles in California and Nevada.

Dr. Theodorou received a bachelor's degree in vocal music performance from Fresno State University, a master’s degree in conducting from the Eastman School of Music, and a doctoral degree in choral conducting from the University of Oklahoma.  He studied extensively with such choral conducting icons as Donald Neuen, Dennis Shrock, and Helmut Rilling, and he has taken part in performances with famed maestros Leonard Bernstein, Michael Tilson Thomas, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Carl St. Clair, and others.  Equally skilled as a conductor and music director, Theodorou has produced and performed a wide variety of classical, musical theater, and pop/vocal jazz repertoire.  He has prepared choral ensembles for the Eastman Philharmonic, the Oklahoma Philharmonic, the Albany Symphony, the Pacific Symphony, and the Boise Philharmonic.  Theater activities include directing choruses for shows with OperAlbany in Georgia the St. Joseph Ballet in Irvine, California, the Star Theater Company in Oceanside, California, and OperaIdaho in Boise.  Since 1996, Theodorou has professionally adjudicated over five hundred choral ensembles with Heritage Festivals, USA.  He is also completing course work for a master of education degree in educational leadership and the doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction through Boise State University.   

For his classroom activities, Dr. Theodorou received a 1991 "Golden Apple Award" for outstanding work with the Lompoc Unified School District and the 2005 “Secondary Vocal Music Teacher of the Year Award” from Arts OC in Orange County, California.  The faculty of the School of Music at the University of Oklahoma voted him the recipient of the highly regarded “Gail Boyd de Stwolinski Award” for highest achievement and distinguished contributions as a doctoral student.  In 1987, while still a master’s student, he won first prize at the Scarritt National Choral Conducting Competition in Nashville.  His ensembles consistently received superior ratings at music festivals across the country, and he was invited to present performances for the 2003 California Music Educators Association State Convention in Pasadena and the 2010 Idaho Music Educators Association.  He has led choir tours throughout the United States and Europe, performing at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, Davies Symphony Hall, Grace Cathedral, St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Southwark Cathedral in London, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  Theodorou has directed state, local and regional high school and middle school honor choirs in Georgia, Nevada, California, and Idaho as well.  An ardent proponent of secondary school music, Dr. Theodorou specializes in the teaching and performance of pre-nineteenth century choral repertoire as well as school music curriculum alignment.  He also writes and arranges his own music, and his compositions have been performed at regional festivals and honor choirs.

Theodorou resides in Boise with wife Megan Starr-Levitt, a former “Christine” with the national tour of “The Phantom of the Opera” and their son, Alexander.