Theodosia Roussos, Oboe
Theodosia is a Greek Cypriot American Composer, Soprano, and Oboe/English Horn player. Most recently she composed what The Guardian calls a “magnetic score” alongside Devonte Hynes for the Netflix documentary Naomi Osaka, directed by Garrett Bradley. She also released an original opera art film Polymnia, described as “haunting and beautiful” by Opera News, commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects, National Sawdust and All Arts TV with director Diana Wyenn, projection artist Hana Kim, conductor Christopher Rountree, and WildUp in which she is the vocalist, oboist, and composer. Indie Opera describes Theodosia as a “bright, lush soprano.” She has collaborated on several projects with composer Emile Mosseri, playing oboe, English horn, voice, and writing original melodies for the film The Last Black Man in San Francisco, recording oboe for the Amazon show Homecoming, and as the soprano soloist for Kajillionaire, directed by Miranda July.
Theodosia has performed with orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Boston Philharmonic, Tucson Symphony and studio orchestras at Warner Brothers, EastWest Studios, and Coachella. She performs frequently at venues including Hollywood Bowl, The Ford, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and The Forum in Los Angeles. Theodosia had the honor of performing in The Industry’s opera Sweet Land, which was named the best opera of 2020 by the Music Critics Association of North America. She starred as Maria in West Side Story in two different productions in 2018, including with conductor Michael Barrett and narrator Jamie Bernstein. Theodosia made her solo vocal debut in 2015 with the Phoenix Symphony singing contemporary Greek folk songs, and was a featured soloist of the 2017 European Union Cultural Capital in Pafos.
This season’s engagements include a film performance with Four Larks, a song commission for soprano Victoria Lawal at Boston Court Pasadena, and several other commissions and film composition engagements to be announced soon. Theodosia is looking forward to performing the premiere of her complete opera Polymnia in 2022, commissioned by the UCLA Stavros Niarchos Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture, in collaboration with Opera UCLA with director Diana Wyenn. She is also looking forward to performing as a vocalist/composer in Dots+Loops Nonstop Festival in Australia in 2022, as well as playing oboe for Spoleto Festival USA and Songfest in 2022.
Theodosia’s passion for contemporary music has led to premiere performances at REDCAT, Banff Center for Creativity, Bang on a Can Festival, soundSCAPE, Saari Residency and collaborations with Art of Elan, Synchromy, and LA Camerata. Theodosia has collaborated with contemporary music specialists Jake Heggie, Libby Larsen, Claire Chase of International Contemporary Ensemble, Steve Schick, Du Yun, Mark Stewart, Nick Photinos, Bang on a Can All-Stars, David Lang, Julia Wolfe, John Harbison, John Luther Adams, Butch Morris, George Lewis, Miya Masaoka, Peter Evans, among many more. Theodosia has played oboe and English horn for stars including Ariana Grande, Josh Groban, Il Divo, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joshua Bell, Jackson Browne, Ingrid Michaelson, Weird Al, John Stamos, and Dionne Warwick. In 2016, Theodosia performed a concert tour of international folk music that raised $26,000 for Greek non-profits during the economic crisis, culminating in a solo recital at the Presidential Palace of Cyprus.
Theodosia holds two Master of Music degrees from University of Southern California in Vocal Arts and Oboe, an Artist Diploma from Oberlin Conservatory in Oboe, and a Double Bachelor’s from University of California Los Angeles in Oboe Performance and Comparative Literature. She is a member of USC Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honors Society, and was awarded special honors in the departments of woodwind, composition and new music. At UCLA Theodosia graduated cum laude, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board Honors Societies, and earned the Chancellor’s Service Award. Theodosia is a frequent Guest Lecturer at all her alma maters and enjoys teaching privately in Los Angeles.
Theodosia has performed with orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Boston Philharmonic, Tucson Symphony and studio orchestras at Warner Brothers, EastWest Studios, and Coachella. She performs frequently at venues including Hollywood Bowl, The Ford, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and The Forum in Los Angeles. Theodosia had the honor of performing in The Industry’s opera Sweet Land, which was named the best opera of 2020 by the Music Critics Association of North America. She starred as Maria in West Side Story in two different productions in 2018, including with conductor Michael Barrett and narrator Jamie Bernstein. Theodosia made her solo vocal debut in 2015 with the Phoenix Symphony singing contemporary Greek folk songs, and was a featured soloist of the 2017 European Union Cultural Capital in Pafos.
This season’s engagements include a film performance with Four Larks, a song commission for soprano Victoria Lawal at Boston Court Pasadena, and several other commissions and film composition engagements to be announced soon. Theodosia is looking forward to performing the premiere of her complete opera Polymnia in 2022, commissioned by the UCLA Stavros Niarchos Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture, in collaboration with Opera UCLA with director Diana Wyenn. She is also looking forward to performing as a vocalist/composer in Dots+Loops Nonstop Festival in Australia in 2022, as well as playing oboe for Spoleto Festival USA and Songfest in 2022.
Theodosia’s passion for contemporary music has led to premiere performances at REDCAT, Banff Center for Creativity, Bang on a Can Festival, soundSCAPE, Saari Residency and collaborations with Art of Elan, Synchromy, and LA Camerata. Theodosia has collaborated with contemporary music specialists Jake Heggie, Libby Larsen, Claire Chase of International Contemporary Ensemble, Steve Schick, Du Yun, Mark Stewart, Nick Photinos, Bang on a Can All-Stars, David Lang, Julia Wolfe, John Harbison, John Luther Adams, Butch Morris, George Lewis, Miya Masaoka, Peter Evans, among many more. Theodosia has played oboe and English horn for stars including Ariana Grande, Josh Groban, Il Divo, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joshua Bell, Jackson Browne, Ingrid Michaelson, Weird Al, John Stamos, and Dionne Warwick. In 2016, Theodosia performed a concert tour of international folk music that raised $26,000 for Greek non-profits during the economic crisis, culminating in a solo recital at the Presidential Palace of Cyprus.
Theodosia holds two Master of Music degrees from University of Southern California in Vocal Arts and Oboe, an Artist Diploma from Oberlin Conservatory in Oboe, and a Double Bachelor’s from University of California Los Angeles in Oboe Performance and Comparative Literature. She is a member of USC Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honors Society, and was awarded special honors in the departments of woodwind, composition and new music. At UCLA Theodosia graduated cum laude, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board Honors Societies, and earned the Chancellor’s Service Award. Theodosia is a frequent Guest Lecturer at all her alma maters and enjoys teaching privately in Los Angeles.