| About
Okotécho guides the listener into a sonic world brimming with hope, aspiration, and lyricism found in the exceptional interlude between the Middle East, Arboriginal and the West. Under the artistic direction of composer Katia Makdissi-Warren, Okotécho explores mixed music and musical sounds through its own compositions.
World music ensemble Oktoecho
Music of the middle-east, music of the west, and indigenous music of Canada
Oktoécho guides the listener into a sonic world brimming with lyricism in a space between the musics of the Middle East, Arboriginal and the West. Under the artistic direction of composer Katia Makdissi-Warren, Oktoécho explores mixed music and musical sounds through its own creations.
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The group has recorded soundtracks for film and expositions in Canada, France, Singapore, Korea, Lebanon and created the music for a permanent multi-media exhibit at the Burj-Dubaï Tower in Dubai, the highest structure in the world.
Oktoecho has toured in Spain and in Canada and has recently performed at the prestigious Beiteddin Festival in Lebanon.
Okotécho has appeared at numerous venues : Festival du Monde Arabe de Montréal, Festival Présence Autochtone, Festival Séfarade de Montréal, l’Off-Festival de Jazz de Montréal, Palais Montcalm de Québec, Koerner Hall de Toronto.
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The ensemble collaborates with renowned international artists such as Naseer Shamma (Egypt), Marcel Khalifé et Charbel Rouhana (Lebanon), Rachid Zeroual (Maroc), Farida (Irak), Peter Herbert (Austria), Lena Chamamyian (Syria) et Sergio Puccini (Argentina) et collaborates also with chamber orchestra such as I Musici de Montréal.
The group has released 6 albums : Zeugma, Eponyme, La 5e route bleue, At the Top (Burj Khalifa), Saimaniq and Transcetral. The CDs are regularly broadcast on CBC Radio and Espace Musique.
Oktoecho is an award-nominated ensemble. Nominations include the Canadian Folk Music Award 2009 (Best Album of world music, Band of the Year, Best Instrumental Album of the Year); OPUS Awards Record of the Year Jazz and World Music (2009, 2010, 2012).
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Mandate
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Promote Canadian mixed-music musical creation and the interpretation of mixed works by Canadian composers as a producer of concerts, events, recordings, tours. Three main aspects: Middle Eastern, Native and Western mixed music.​​
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Offer specialized music education (Middle Eastern, Native, Western) to professional musicians and composers.
Awards & nominations
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Nomination Canadian Folk Muisc Awards 2023 - Prix Innovation Musicale Olver Schroer - TRANSCESTRAL
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Nomination Canadian Folk Muisc Awards 2023 - Réalisateur de l'année - Katia M.-W., TRANSCESTRAL
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Médaille d'argent - Global Music Awards 2022 - World Indigenous
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Médaille d'argent - Global Music Awards 2022 - Band of the year
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Médaille d'argent - Global Music Awards 2022 - Album of the year TRANSCESTRAL
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Nomination au Gala de l'ADISQ 2022 - Album de l'année - Musique du Monde pour TRANSCESTRAL
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24e PRIX OPUS : NOMINATION - Création de l'année (Katia Makdissi-Warren) : pour "L'OUEST DU MATIN"
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​23e PRIX OPUS en collaboration avec le Conseil des Arts de Montréal : LAURÉAT - Inclusion et diversité Montréal pour l'ensemble Oktoécho.
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22e PRIX OPUS : LAURÉAT - Album de l'année - Musiques du monde et musique traditionnelle québécoise pour SAIMANIQ.
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21e PRIX OPUS : NOMINATION - “Concert de l’année - Montréal” et “Concert de l’année - Musiques du monde” pour TRANSCESTRAL
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16e PRIX OPUS : NOMINATION : « Concert de l’année – Musiques du Monde » pour ÉPONYME
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14e PRIX OPUS : NOMINATION - « Disque de l’année JAZZ » pour LA 5e ROUTE BLEUE
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13e PRIX OPUS : NOMINATION - «Disque de l’année Jazz-Musiques du monde » pour ÉPONYME
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Prix Musique Folk Canadienne 2009 : NOMINATION - « Groupe de l’année » (Ensemble of the year), “Artiste de l’année - Musique du monde - Group” (World Group of the year), « Album de l’année - Groupe Instrumentistes » (Instrumental Group of the year) pour l'ensemble Oktoecho