Creative Pathways | Q&A with Dr Marios Papadopoulos

The Road to Oxford: Journeys, Music, and Belonging

Tuesday 24 March 2026 | 18:30

📍 The Hellenic Centre, London

Reserve a spot via link

As part of the Creative Pathways programme accompanying the exhibition George Pol. Georghiou – Timeless Cyprus, we are delighted to welcome Marios Papadopoulos, Cypriot conductor, educator, and Founder & Music Director of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, for an open public Q&A conversation.

The evening takes inspiration from the arc of Dr Papadopoulos’s personal and artistic journey — a journey traced through telling milestones: early musical life, departure from home, international encounters, the decisive transition from piano to podium, and ultimately the road to Oxford. Like the journey to Ithaca in Constantine P. Cavafy’s poetry, this road is not only about arrival, but about formation: the experiences, detours, and encounters that shape an artist’s voice and sense of purpose.

In conversation, Dr Papadopoulos will reflect on the paths that led him from Cyprus to London and beyond, on building an orchestra from vision and conviction, and on the responsibilities that come with leadership in music. Particular attention will be given to moments of transition — artistic, personal, and ethical — that resonate with young creatives, musicians, and anyone navigating their own creative pathway.

The discussion will also touch on music as a social force: education, access, and presence beyond the concert hall, including the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra’s long-standing engagement with young people, schools, and communities, as well as its belief in music as a living, human experience.

Rooted in his enduring bond with Cyprus, the conversation opens a space to reflect on identity, diaspora, and the ways cultural memory travels with us. The event will conclude with an open Q&A, inviting the audience to take part in a shared exploration of journey, creativity, and belonging.