Obituary for Adrian Semo
Adrian Semo, of Frederick, Maryland, and formerly of Baltimore and Rockville, Maryland, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, August 28, 2023, at the age of 89. He is survived by his beloved wife, Nora M. Semo; his loving daughter, Alina M. Semo (David C. Wolf); and his cherished grandchildren, Alexandra R. Kofsky (Andrew M. Diamond) and Joshua M. Kofsky. He was predeceased by his loving parents, Raschelle and Benzion Semo.
Services at Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park, 14321 Comus Road, Clarksburg, MD 21701, on Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers you may send a contribution in Adrian’s memory to Hungry for Music, https://hungryformusic.org/. Please join the family in a celebration of Adrian's life at Dr. Gabi Miller’s house in The Kentlands,106 Thrift Street, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, immediately after the service, with services at 7:00 pm.
An active soloist and chamber musician, Adrian served as the Associate Concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) for 30 years until his retirement in 2003. Born in Bucharest, Romania, he began his violin studies at the age of five. He studied with the great Romanian composer and violinist George Enescu and graduated from the Bucharest Conservatory. Upon graduation, he joined the George Enescu Philharmonic as first violinist. He was awarded First Prize in the Romanian National Competition, and led the baroque classical music quintet Concertino, touring Western Europe and recording on the Electrerecord label. After emigrating to the United States with his wife, daughter and mother, he joined the BSO and performed numerous times as a soloist and as Concertmaster, playing all of the major violin solos in the repertoire. Adrian also gave violin master classes in the BSO’s “American Orchestras on Tour” program and served on the violin faculty of Essex Community College.
After retiring from the BSO, Adrian took only a short respite from performing, and returned to play for pleasure, because he said his love of music was “never-ending.” He joined the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra as a guest Concertmaster and the National Philharmonic after moving to Rockville, Maryland with his wife to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren. Adrian also continued to transmit his love and knowledge of music to future generations by teaching advanced violin students in his private studio. Over the course of more than 15 years, he taught numerous students and also coached the first violin section of all Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras. Despite his busy schedule in “retirement,” Adrian also managed to travel extensively with his wife overseas, with a particular fondness for the country of Italy.
Services at Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park, 14321 Comus Road, Clarksburg, MD 21701, on Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers you may send a contribution in Adrian’s memory to Hungry for Music, https://hungryformusic.org/. Please join the family in a celebration of Adrian's life at Dr. Gabi Miller’s house in The Kentlands,106 Thrift Street, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, immediately after the service, with services at 7:00 pm.
An active soloist and chamber musician, Adrian served as the Associate Concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) for 30 years until his retirement in 2003. Born in Bucharest, Romania, he began his violin studies at the age of five. He studied with the great Romanian composer and violinist George Enescu and graduated from the Bucharest Conservatory. Upon graduation, he joined the George Enescu Philharmonic as first violinist. He was awarded First Prize in the Romanian National Competition, and led the baroque classical music quintet Concertino, touring Western Europe and recording on the Electrerecord label. After emigrating to the United States with his wife, daughter and mother, he joined the BSO and performed numerous times as a soloist and as Concertmaster, playing all of the major violin solos in the repertoire. Adrian also gave violin master classes in the BSO’s “American Orchestras on Tour” program and served on the violin faculty of Essex Community College.
After retiring from the BSO, Adrian took only a short respite from performing, and returned to play for pleasure, because he said his love of music was “never-ending.” He joined the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra as a guest Concertmaster and the National Philharmonic after moving to Rockville, Maryland with his wife to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren. Adrian also continued to transmit his love and knowledge of music to future generations by teaching advanced violin students in his private studio. Over the course of more than 15 years, he taught numerous students and also coached the first violin section of all Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras. Despite his busy schedule in “retirement,” Adrian also managed to travel extensively with his wife overseas, with a particular fondness for the country of Italy.