Louisiana State University: Remembering The Extraordinary Tenure Of Boyd Professor Dinos Constantinides

Press release from Louisiana State University:

07/22/2021

BATON ROUGE, La. - The LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts and LSU School of Music
are saddened to confirm the passing of Dinos Constantinides, LSU Boyd Professor of
Composition, at the age of 92.

Dr. Constantinides, Boyd Professor of Composition and Composer-in-Residence, began
teaching at the LSU School of Music in 1966 and held the rank of Boyd Professor since
1986. Throughout his illustrious career as a composer, violinist, and conductor, he
amassed an impressive array of grants, commissions, and awards, and tirelessly used
those successes for the betterment of his students at LSU. Under his tutelage, his
students became renowned artists in their own right—going on to win national and international
awards in both composition and performance. A number of them have followed his lead
even more closely into the realm of pedagogy and now hold professorships at arts institutions
across the globe.

Personal honors for Dr. Constantinides were plentiful. Over more than six decades
of experience, Dr. Constantinides wrote over 230 compositions, including his opera
Intimations, winner of two awards; his opera Antigone; and seven symphonies, of which
Symphony No. 2 earned him Louisiana's Artist of the Year Award. Hearing his works
in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall was a routine occurrence. Dr. Constantinides
was additionally the recipient of first prizes in the Brooklyn College International
Chamber Competition and the First Midwest Chamber Opera Conference, as well as the
Delius Composition Contest Grand Prize, American New Music Consortium Distinguished
Service Award, and many more. In July of 2020, he was recognized with the Albert Nelson
Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

“There is no more fitting use of ‘maestro’ than for Dinos Constantinides,” said James
Byo, Director of the LSU School of Music. “A master composer and teacher, he was a
quintessential champion of his students, their music, and their careers, and he wisely
and generously used the resources of LSU’s Boyd Professorship to create opportunities
for countless performing musicians. He leaves a legacy of extraordinary creativity
and gritty commitment to the discipline and his students.”

Prior to coming to LSU, Dr. Constantinides studied music theory and violin at the
Greek Conservatory in Athens, the Juilliard School of Music, and Indiana University,
and composition at Michigan State University. He began his career as a violinist,
playing with the State Orchestra of Athens in Greece and the Indianapolis and Baton
Rouge Symphonies for many years.

“Dinos Constantinides was a masterful pedagogue and brilliant composer who elevated
his students’ learning to the highest levels,” said Kristin Sosnowsky, Interim Dean
of the LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts. “His dedication to training new generations
of composers and scholars was unparalleled, and his artistry and passion for music
will be felt through the performance of his many works for generations to come. We
lament his passing and send our love and support to his wife, Judy Constantinides,
and the entire family.”

Information about memorial arrangements will be forthcoming.

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Ernie BallardLSU Media Relations225-578-5685eballa1@lsu.edu 

Cullen SadlerLSU College of Music & Dramatic Artsjsadle5@lsu.edu 

This press release was produced by Louisiana State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.