He studied music initially at the Philharmonic Society of Corfu, then at the Athens Conservatory and with a scholarship from the Italian State in Italy. He played trumpet as an orchestra musician. He was a brass teacher at the Greek Conservatory. He was a key member of the CTO from 1943 to 1968. A pioneering ethnomusicologist with a great deal to offer. Member of the E.L.S. and the Athens and Piraeus Philharmonic Orchestras. He was also a member of the Society of Greek Writers.

He was honoured for his work by the Patriarchate of Alexandria. He created a rich music library with 2500 volumes. He also collected valuable musicological data for the Greek Music Doxology, musical works of Greek composers (1300), programs of musical events and numerous photographs. He published two unique collections of their kind, entitled Archive of Modern Greek Music and Archive of Compositions of Greek Composers. In 1958 another valuable book Neohellenic Music. In 1967 he published another study book, Study for a Historical Archive of Modern Greek Music. His entire vast archive was donated to the state and is located in a special room of the National Library, as the Mocheniw Archive. An important music prize was also established in his name by his wife Litsa Papa Motsenios, which is awarded by the Academy of Athens to talented Greek musicians.