In anticipation of the upcoming Pentecost Tribute Concert honoring His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the late Archon music instructor Nikolaos Steliaros, the Orthodox Observer’s Dr. Claire Koen spoke with Protopsaltis Dr. Demetrios Kehagias about his late mentor.
Dr. Kehagias, you began your study of Byzantine music at the age of 14 under the renowned Nicholaos Steliaros, Archon Mousikodidaskalos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in whose honor the upcoming Pentecost Tribute Concert will be performed. Can you tell us a little about the role that Mr. Steliaros played both in shaping you as a person, and in the direction that your musical career would take?
Mr. Steliaros was a truly unique individual whose legacy reaches far beyond the confines of any classroom or chanter’s stand. Widely known as a master chanter and dedicated teacher of Byzantine music, he taught a multitude of students across the New York tri-state area and in Chios, Greece, where he served as the “lambadarios” or left chanter at the Metropolis of Chios. Over decades of tireless teaching and chanting, Mr. Steliaros played a critical role in reviving and preserving the sacred art of Byzantine music in the United States.
When he arrived in this country in the 1960s, Byzantine music was teetering on the edge of extinction in the services of the Greek Orthodox Church. Undeterred, he kept the flame alive—teaching and inspiring a new generation of chanters with such fervor that today, Byzantine music is experiencing a true revival on American soil. Remarkably, he did all of this without ever asking for or accepting a single cent.
However, his influence extended beyond the sphere of music. What many may not know is that the ever-memorable Mr. Steliaros also taught us invaluable life lessons—lessons about character, respect, discipline, and integrity. In my humble opinion, these lessons were just as—if not more—important than his musical instruction. Although he believed in humility, he also inspired us to hold the courage of our convictions and stand up for what we believed was right.
He was a man of principle who held a deep respect for the clergy and Orthodox Christian tradition, and he taught us to carry ourselves with that same reverence. His work ethic was unmatched, and he demanded that same exemplary dedication from those of us lucky enough to learn from him. Personally, I strive to pass on this same work ethic to my own students and children, in the hopes that I might be able to give back even a fraction of what he gave to us and thus keep his legacy alive.
Perhaps the greatest lesson Mr. Steliaros ever taught me was the value of honesty—both in music and in life. He used to say that there are no shortcuts in this art. On more than one occasion, I can remember that if I showed up to a lesson unprepared, he would simply close the music book and send me home. The shame stung, but it forced me to work twice as hard and return the following week ready and renewed. In music, as in life, he taught us that effort, sincerity, and truth are the hallmarks of success.
For Mr. Steliaros, a person’s word was sacred. If he gave you his word, you could count on him. Naturally, he expected the same in return. This kind of integrity left a lasting impression on all of us.
With every note we chant, through every student we teach, in every act of honesty and hard work—we carry a piece of him with us. Mr. Steliaros left a profound and permanent mark on our lives. It was truly an honor to have known and learned from him.
You hold both a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and a Certificate of Byzantine Music from the National Conservatory of Athens, along with a Teaching Diploma in Byzantine Music. How do these two very different professions come together in your life? How do they influence one another? And how do you find the time and energy to pursue two distinct—and very time-consuming—professions?
Music and pharmacy have been intricately intertwined throughout most of my life. From a young age, my first love was always music. My parents would take me to church regularly, where I eventually began serving as an altar boy. Drawn to the beauty of the melodies, I found myself gravitating toward the chanter’s stand, where I began empirically learning our tradition of ecclesiastical music tradition through direct participation.
During my adolescence I was fortunate enough to formally study Byzantine music under the late Mr. Steliaros at the Hellenic Cultural Center in Astoria, NY. At the same time, I was playing trombone in my junior high school band, balancing both sacred and secular musical traditions.
My late father, who emigrated from Greece in the 1950s, had a profound influence on my path. He survived the hardships of WWII and the Greek Civil War, eventually settling in the United States, where he earned a Master’s degree in science. He went on to teach Chemistry in high school for many years. His dedication to education and science inspired me to pursue a similar path, leading me to study Pharmacy.
I attended Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY, where I earned my Doctor of Pharmacy degree. LIU also had a vibrant music program that focused on jazz improvisation, and I availed myself of the opportunity to take classes in jazz harmony, improvisation, and history. I also performed in various ensembles with my trombone, an experience that expanded my musical horizons and deepened my appreciation for rhythms and sounds from diverse cultures worldwide. Over time, I also began playing other instruments, including the oud.
Today I work as an oncology pharmacist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens, NY. It’s a demanding and often intense profession, particularly within the hospital setting. Yet, the opportunity to chant on Sundays or teach Byzantine music to the younger generation brings a sense of peace and balance to my life. This is something I view as a true privilege and blessing from God, and it enriches my life.
You are preparing to lead the Romanos the Melodist Greek Orthodox Byzantine Choir and Chanters Society in the Pentecost Tribute Concert on the Patronal Feast of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a performance in honor of your late mentor, Mr. Nikolaos Steliaros. What does this concert mean to you? And what about Mr. Steliaros’s legacy do you hope to communicate to the audience?
This upcoming tribute concert represents the latest initiative by myself and my colleagues to interact with diverse audiences and promote the sacred art of Byzantine music. In the past, we were blessed to perform nationally across the U.S, as well as internationally – including in concert at Hagia Irene in Constantinople, which was a monumental experience that I will always treasure. There was something truly awe-inspiring about being able to perform in the “Queen City,” the spiritual center of Hellenism and seat of our Mother Church the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The fact that we found ourselves chanting centuries-old hymns on the same hallowed ground and in the same sacred spaces where some of the most well-known figures in Orthodox Christianity once stood and chanted themselves was definitely humbling, but it also sensitized me even further to the continuity of our spiritual and cultural legacy.
Whenever I participate in a concert, whether on the local level or elsewhere, I view it as a unique opportunity to interact with the audience and enter into communion with them, while partaking in this age-old legacy together with them. Whether the audience includes listeners with a wide exposure to our sacred musical tradition, or individuals who are just now beginning to discover it, the opportunities to connect with them and take our place on this continuous journey, where the past meets the present to shape the future are always there.
Therefore, I suppose that this concert represents an opportunity for essential communication/communion in all directions. Communion with the divine through the sacred hymns we will be chanting. Communion with those who came before me and served the psaltic art—including, of course, my beloved teacher—communion with my contemporaries who endeavor to continue this art and pass it on, communion with the younger generations with an open invitation to come and learn more about our history and tradition. It’s also an opportunity to share more advanced and intricate pieces with audience members who are familiar with Byzantine music, but also to introduce it to those who aren’t frequently exposed to it or are maybe even hearing it for the first time.
If there were only one thing that the audience could take away from this concert with regard to Mr. Steliaros’ legacy, I think it would be his love for tradition, and the important role that the continuity of this tradition plays in our Church, our community, and our history as a people. Despite Mr. Steliaros’ immense musical talent and abilities, I believe that the pieces he enjoyed chanting the most and which were characteristic of him were the classical compositions – pieces handed down from generation to generation, passed on from teacher to student over and over again throughout the centuries. Understanding the significance of this legacy and the role that each and every one of us can play as “ambassadors” and “torchbearers” provides a tremendous realization that we are all called to serve something far greater than ourselves and be a part of something that transcends time, space, and eras.
A few years ago, UNESCO added Byzantine music to its list of intangible cultural heritage, and while this recognition from a significant international body like the United Nations is impressive, I think down deep, this is something that all of us who have participated empirically in the life of the Church – from the youngest to the oldest – have known intuitively for as long as we can remember. This is a beautiful and blessed tradition that we are part of, and I will be ever grateful to the late Mr. Steliaros for helping me delve deeper into its musical aspect and share it with all those who are interested.
Photos: Orthodox Observer/ Dimitrios Panagos (left), courtesy of Dr. Demetrios Kehagias (right).
