Marios
Papadopoulos

Marios Papadopoulos started his career as a concert pianist before founding the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in 1998, a role he has embraced as its Music Director ever since. Under his guidance, the Orchestra has risen to prominence as one of the leading orchestras in the UK, regularly collaborating with esteemed artists including Anne-Sophie Mutter, Janine Jansen, Evgeny Kissin, Maxim Vengerov, and Martha Argerich.

Papadopoulos has appeared as guest conductor and soloist with the Philharmonic Orchestra, European Union Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In June 2022 he conducted the Oxford Philharmonic in their Carnegie Hall debut in New York and in 2023 at the Musikverein in Vienna, as well as the Isarphilharmonie in Munich with pianist Martha Argerich as soloist.

A prolific recording artist, Papadopoulos’s catalogue includes his critically acclaimed Beethoven sonatas, performances of Stravinsky’s Concerto for Piano and Wind and the 24 Preludes and Fugues by Shostakovich. He conducts the Oxford Philharmonic in new recordings of the Brahms and Sibelius violin concertos with Maxim Vengerov as soloist. In 2023, he recorded Mozart Symphonies Nos 40 & 41 for Apple Music conducting the Oxford Philharmonic. As a pianist, he and Vengerov have recorded the complete Brahms violin sonatas. 

Papadopoulos is dedicated to nurturing young talent and imparts knowledge to young artists through his vast experience, particularly during the annual Oxford Piano Festival which he founded in 1999. 

Marios Papadopoulos holds a doctorate in music from City University and is a Fellow by Special Election of Keble College, Oxford. In 2014, Papadopoulos was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for services to music in Oxford.