Oktoecho Will Host Two Free Outdoor Concerts This Saturday

On May 30, fifteen artists from Oktoecho will present two outdoor performances of Transcestral, an original creation bringing together Sufi and Indigenous music and dance traditions (Inuit, First Nations, and Métis).

Under the direction of Katia Makdissi-Warren, these concerts will feature Nina Segalowitz (Dene and Inuvialuit singing), Moe Clark (Métis singing), Anouar Barrada (Sufi singing), Sandrine Masse (Wendat singing), the young Atikamekw singers Wapan Boivin and Kenny Verreault, as well as Adam Barrada (whirling dervish) and Sam Ojeda (Yoreme dancer).

11:30 a.m. — Marcelin-Wilson Park
As part of the Ahuntsic-Cartierville Family Festival

7:30 p.m. — Fort-Lorette (near the Visitation Church)
In collaboration with the Ahuntsic-Cartierville Historical Society.

The May 30 concerts are free, no reservation required, and presented in partnership with the Caisse Desjardins du Centre-nord de Montréal.

Transcestral stands out through its participatory and intergenerational dimension. Youth from the Maison des jeunes de Bordeaux-Cartierville and La Dauversière School, who took part in workshops throughout the year, will join the artists on stage to present their own creations. The project also includes the participation of young artists from Okto-Relève.

This summer, Nina Segalowitz and Bertil Schulrabe from Oktoecho, along with Mélanie Bourassa from E27, will travel to Seoul to present Écliptique, a work by composer Katia Makdissi-Warren. The piece will be performed as part of ClarinetFest 2026, organized by the International Clarinet Association, as well as at the Seoul Baekje Museum.

Oktoecho received the prestigious Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award at the Canadian Folk Music Awards for its album Sivumut, dedicated to Inuit throat singing. This important recognition highlights the work of the Montreal-based ensemble led by composer Katia Makdissi-Warren, which continues to explore intersections between cultures, traditions, and contemporary creation.