Draft:Angelo Pentaris

Angelo Pentaris is a Greek-Lebanese-Italian drummer and motivational speaker with Cerebral Palsy-Tetraplegia.

Early Years

Born in October 4th, 1996, Angelo was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy & Tetraplegia at the age of four months: the doctors told him that he would never be able to move his arms and legs, unable to lead an independent life. Despite the slim odds, Angelo, with much effort and perseverance, overcame his disability through exercise and daily physical therapy.

When he was 14, due to a severe muscle spasm, he was forced to use a wheelchair: at the time, this event seemed to annul all the hard effort and achievements he had accomplished so far. In spite of the fact that the chances of him ever getting up again were lower than 20%, Angelo once again managed to exceed expectations.

Music and Drums

It was at this age, that Angelo discovered drums: unable to do other things that he loved (i.e. water sports), he turned to music and found a new driving force that inspired him to work harder and become a better version of himself.

At 17, he enrolled at Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena, California where he pursued a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in Drum Performance: eventually, he was one of the three students to graduate from a class of initially 15 people. During his time in the United States, he had the opportunity to be interviewed by Drum Channel, one of the largest drumming platforms worldwide, that has hosted artists such as the drummers of Red Hot Chili Peppers (Chad Smith) and Ariana Grande (Aaron Spears).

In recent years, he has toured and played with several bands, getting to know people who "embraced" him for his talent and positive energy. In May 2022, he was one of the drummers that played on the stage of the 5th Athens Drum Festival, the biggest drumming event in Greece. For the past two years, he has been hosting his Drum Up the Volume events in some of the most popular places of Athenian entertainment.

Motivational Speaking

In recent years, Angelo Pentaris has given many speeches both in Greece and abroad, urging people not to give up in the face of difficulties in order to become the best version of themselves. His talks around the world are often accompanied by live drumming performances in collaboration with various artists.

In 2022, Angelo participated in TedX Athens, held on May 28 at the SNFCC, where he revealed to the audience a Great Unknown: the power of will. Through his speech 'Moving from Fear to Faith', which was followed by a drum performance, he showed how he turned fear from an obstacle into a driving force.

As part of his effort to inspire others, Angelo collaborated with Lionsroar Drumline Hellas, a non-profit organization, to create the short film 'Hero' which is based on his life. The film shows the experiences of the young drummer and motivational speaker. When life wanted him paralyzed, he "got up" and, by spending countless hours in physiotherapy and training, managed not only to regain control of his limbs and walk but, ultimately, to make his dream a reality: become a drummer!

The film shows that nothing is impossible if you set your mind to succeed. The project had a non-profit purpose. However, anyone who watches the film can find a link below and donate to the 'Hara' foundation, an organization chosen by Angelo himself that accommodates people with mental and mobility difficulties.

Sports

Intensive exercise is an integral part of Angelo's life. He works out every day and at the same time is involved in a variety of sports, including boxing, swimming, and windsurfing.

In 2023, he collaborated with wingfoiling company Ftero, in an effort to successfully foil as a person with a disability. With a lot of hard work and thorough guidance, the results were impressive.