Musical Background

 I realize that I may not have fully acknowledged a significant aspect of my life: music. I began playing the viola in third grade and participated in school orchestras throughout my early years. My passion for music led me to minor in it during my time at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio. There, I also studied viola at the Cleveland Institute of Music and participated in various musical ensembles.

During my twenties in the Cleveland area, I had the privilege of playing viola with the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra, conducted by Hyman Chandler, who also served as my teacher. Subsequently, I performed with the Cleveland Philharmonic for several years. While working at the Cleveland Clinic, I formed a chamber ensemble that played at various events.

In 1998, after my move to Cincinnati, I played with the Fairfield-Hamilton Symphony and taught viola and violin. Later, when I relocated to the Washington, D.C. area, I continued to play viola with the Friday Morning Music Club and other ensembles.

In 2008, I experienced a fall down a flight of stairs that resulted in a neck injury, which sadly forced me to stop playing the viola. Four years later, I attempted to play the violin— a smaller, more manageable instrument— and have enjoyed playing it since 2012.

I have taken private lessons from Deb Stotelmyer at Hagerstown Community College and attended their string ensemble. I spent a couple of years at the Cumberland Valley School of Music at Wilson College, PA. In 2014, I joined the Frederick Symphony Orchestra, Frederick, MD, as second violin under the direction of Elise Koehler, and later, Glenn Quadar. I played with the FSO for approximately six years. During that time, my colleagues and I formed a string quartet named "Eklektika," and we participated in their outreach program at local libraries, performing violin during storytelling sessions for children and various groups. I left FSO in 2020. I am pleased to share that as of 2026, I have rejoined the Frederick Symphony Orchestra.

Here are some of the events that FSO's Eklektika performed:

Children's Story Time Music at the Library:

Middletown Public Library:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0HTL-kv8A0

Halloween:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpFG0sCV_04

Holiday Christmas music:

Part I - FCC ILR event

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeE20cpfY6E&list=RDaeE20cpfY6E&start_radio=1

Part II - FCC ILR event

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRwLb4GXC48&list=RDLRwLb4GXC48&start_radio=1

GREEK EVENTS:

I have also played Greek music at a March 25th function by H.S. Prometheas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoAMzESn1ts&list=RDSoAMzESn1ts&start_radio=1

Visit my Youtube channel for more of my playing:

Agni Parthene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpEtXUt4I1w

Holy Friday Lamentations (Eggomia) Stasis 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-UG8u_2xHw

Holy Friday Lamentations (Eggomie) Stasis 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiobOYVKPT4

Holy Friday Lamentations (Eggomia) Stasis 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF_vI1SBU-4

Finally, I have created my own music (either by playing it on the piano or using Noteflight to publish it) and set several of the music to my poems. Visit my Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJLi0C27uK4&list=PLd-nrCmM2lxAihOkfnxR2tmA1k9lfbI1S

I hope you enjoy listening to them!

Until next time,

Patty

Two of My Poems listed in the July 2025 Issue of Pen in Hand

 Two of my poems are published in the July 2025 issue of Pen In Hand Literary Journal. The publication from the Maryland Writers Association is available on Amazon.com.

Listed as one of 10 Greek-American Poets

 National Poetry Month happens to be celebrated in April, and this year, I was listed as one of ten Greek-American poets by Maria Karamitsos on her website. She highlights my poetry book Candlelit Journey: Poetry from the Heart. Maria is a journalist and the founder/publisher/editor of  WindyCity Greek Magazine. She currently writes for Neo Magazine.

Here is the link to the listing: 

https://www.mariakaramitsos.com/2025/04/national-poetry-month-10-greek-american-poets/

Poem - River Becomes You

 Here is a little background to this poem. I have been noticing a dichotomy between people who strive to get ahead, to achieve, to reach their potential and those who accept what is handed to them, doing the bare minimal, and not achieving their potential. Of course, I am generalizing, and there is a danger in generalizing, but for the sake of the poem, I simplified my reasoning about the complexities of life. 

I tend to be in the group that achieves, and sometimes it is difficult to stop, because stopping means death. Anyway, I came across a passage about the river from a novel, suggested recently by a member of a forum, and it inspired me to write this poem about the river.

River Becomes You

River becomes you, flowing softly,

shearing life’s rocks, hard edges,

surrounding them with love.

Liquid love.

River becomes you, pouring serenely

through your veins, filling you

with creative thoughts.

Lifting you high.

Yet, you sit on the sidelines, watching the river,

as your dreams pass you by,

fearing loss, hoping for a better future.

Not moving.

When the river stops flowing, then

it will be too late.

Patty Apostolides, May 30, 2025

Poem: All That is Missing

 

All That is Missing: Early Spring

A row of crocuses, light purple fluff,

are lined under the dogwood.

The nearby daffodils have not thrust their

 green stems from the ground, yet,

soon to become crowned glory.

The irises, rose bushes, dogwood, and fig trees 

are still hibernating, waiting patiently

for warmer weather.

But today, in March, it is a 

warm, sunny day, inviting me outside.

I step on the deck, facing the sun's beams.

I pull up my sleeves and pant legs

revealing arms and legs white as Mulberry silk.

With a single-minded purpose,

I walk on the cement path that used to surround a pool,

enjoying the spring breeze.

I reach the wooden chair that sits near the raised bed.

I carry it to the deck and place it, facing the sun.

I sit there for a few minutes, feeling the warm rays 

on my thirsty skin. I must soak in the sun daily, but 

in increments, because I burn easily.

Now all that is missing is you.

March 12, 2025

Ipatia (Patty) Apostolides

Interview by Peni Jo Renner

 I am sharing an interview I had with author Peni Jo Renner. Here is the link to that interview:

https://authorpenijorenner.wordpress.com/2025/03/02/meet-author-patty-apostolides/

Loss of My Sister

There are times in one's life when losses happen, and no one is immune to them. At some point, we will either lose a family member, a friend, a pet, one's health, or even a dream.  At the beginning of April 2025, I lost my dear sister Irene (we called her Rena), who had been battling cancer for over 15 years. 

She was my older sister. The girl I used to run to and from elementary school with, chugging up and down that long hill, intent on being the first to arrive, but she was always the first. And when little black kids were chasing us home and trying to beat us up, we ran even faster. She protected me, fighting back and knowing what to say while I was tongue-tied. She ran faster than I, and by the time we reached middle school, the family had moved to another neighborhood. There, my sister and I joined the Junior Olympics. We sprinted in the dashes and relays. We had put our running to good use.

As the years went by, Rena began to drive, then went to cosmetology school, got her license, and worked at a beauty salon. At an early age, just out of high school, she married John and moved away. The piano they found in the house they bought ended up in my parents' living room, where I taught myself to play piano. It was the best gift she could give me. 

Their family grew, and with three young boys, they decided to move to Greece, to Lipsi island where my parents and her husband came from. There, they made a life of it. She formed a travel agency, and he managed tour boats that went to nearby islands. Her sons grew up to be tall and strong.

The years passed by. We visited them and they visited us. Their sons married and moved away.

In 2009, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and even after treatment, it progressed to stage 4, then it metastasized to the kidney, and she lost one of them. Each year, she would faithfully get her tests done, take her chemotherapy, dance, grow her gardens, laugh, and joyfully greet the tourists on the island. She would help with the olive picking in the fall. She lived her life to the fullest. She was loved by many.

But God had other plans.

Rest in Peace, dearest sister. Know that I love you and miss you dearly.