Takis Kapogiannis He was born in Athens in 1963. He studied contrabass at the Orfeio Conservatory with Panagiotis Kontos and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz with Johannes Auersberg. After completing his studies, he became a member of the orchestra of the Greek National Opera and the Orchestra of Colours under Manos Hadjidakis. With the founding of the Camerata - Friends of Music Orchestra he assumes the position of Principal therein, in which he remains until 2000. During his involvement with chamber music, he has collaborated with important Greek and foreign musicians, such as Leonidas Kavakos, Yuri Bashmet, Mischa Maisky, etc. As a soloist, he has repeatedly appeared with the Camerata - Friends of Music Orchestra and the Athens State Orchestra. From 1989 to 2009, he was a professor at the Philippos Nakas Conservatory and now he teaches at Orfeio Conservatory and the Athens Conservatory. He is a founding member of the CYCLOS Ensemble and the string quintet Quintarco of the Athens State Orchestra. Since 2000, he holds the position of First Principal in the Athens State Orchestra.