Influential Woman · Sound Meditation Practitioner

Demetria Koninis

Founder of The Cello Experience, Self-employed

Saratoga Springs, NY

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Suzuki Certification Program Degree Certificate in Music from small college Degree Online Improv Classes with Berkeley Professor Cert Suzuki Certification Cert Certificate in Music

Her Story

About Demetria

I honestly never really felt, even as a child, that I fit in with the cello in the traditional sense. I always wondered why I was playing the cello. I struggled because I actually did not go to music school, and I really struggled to fit in with the music community. People would ask me where I went to conservatory, and my story was just so different from everybody else's. I did a lot of private lessons and training, went to all the Suzuki certification classes and took that program, and did a small college thing where I got a certificate in music, but not the big conservatory thing. Musicians can be a little snotty about that. I never felt passionate about doing chamber music or playing in an orchestra. I did feel passionate about helping people, and I love being a teacher. When I finally got in front of a group of people doing this healing with the cello, I felt this overwhelming feeling through my whole body - finally, I know why I'm playing this instrument. I really was getting to the point where I wanted to give up, but this is what I want to do. It takes a while sometimes to figure out who you really are and what you're really doing. There's not just one track for musicians - the cello is a very versatile instrument. My journey has been inspiring for my students too, showing them there are different paths.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Demetria

01What do you attribute your success to?

My inability to see obstacles. If somebody puts a roadblock in front of me, I find a way to go around it. I've been doing that since I was a little girl. It's partly because I'm really super creative - I'll figure it out. There's a creative way to go. Even simple things, like packing the car with my husband - he'll say that's not gonna all fit in there, and I say yes it is, because I'm really super creative and I do not give up. It's always been a funny thing between my husband and I - you never see an obstacle. Nope, because there's not one there. It's always gonna work out at the end of the day. I guess I'm most proud of sticking with it, staying with what was deep in my heart, the cello. I kept thinking, why can't I let this go? I'm proud of myself for being resilient and sticking with the cello and where it belonged in my life. It's really hard to be an entrepreneur - everything lands on you, and you're doing everything yourself all the time. Most people with regular jobs don't understand the resilience and the commitment. It's not an easy road, it's a really hard road.

02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I think the most wonderful thing is that I have freedom within my work to decide what I want, when I want to do stuff, and how I want to do it. That brings me so much joy because I can fit in my friends, and fit in a hike, and go for a bike ride when I want to go for a bike ride, and be with my family when I want to be with my family. Unless there's a commitment there, most of the time I've been able to work around it. Having freedom to be able to make my choices - no one's hanging anything over my head but me. At least it's only coming from me. I did feel passionate about helping people, and I love being a teacher. When I finally got in front of a group of people doing this healing with the cello, it was like finally I know why I'm playing this instrument.

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