THE LIVING COMPOSERS PROJECT  

Amr Okba

(b. 1972, Algiers).

Egyptian composer, born in Algeria and now resident in Austria, of mostly chamber works that have been performed in Europe and the Middle East.

Mr. Okba studied piano as a child and music theory at Helwan University in Helwan from 1989–93, where he also studied business administration and economics. He studied composition with Mohamed Abdelwahab Abdelfattah and Rageh Daoud and music theory with Awatif Abdel-Karim and Ahmed El-Saedi at the Conservatory of the Academy of Arts in Cairo from 1994–98 and there graduated with distinction. He also studied composition privately with Mauro Bortolotti in Rome in 1999–2000. He later studied composition with Reinhard Febel and music theory with Franz Zaunschirm at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg in 2002–03 and studied composition with Detlev Müller-Siemens at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna from 2002–09, where he earned his master's degree with distinction, on a scholarship from the Österreichische Austauschdienst-Gesellschaft.

Among his honours are a prize in the competition of the Ministry of Culture in Cairo (1999, for Suite for String Orchestra [withdrawn]), the Egyptian Rome Prize (1999–2000, for Pictures of the Nuba [withdrawn]) and the Staatsstipendium in composition from the government of Austria (2008). His music has been performed in Austria, Egypt, Germany, and Italy, including once at the ISCM World Music Days (2006, Stuttgart).

He is also active in other positions. He directed the seminars Global Interplay of ISCM in Cairo in 2005–06 and organised its music festival in Cairo in 2006.

He lectured on music theory at the Conservatory of the Academy of Arts in Cairo from 2000–06.

He has lived in Austria since 2006.

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address: amrokba@gmail.com

Website: http://www.amrokba.com/

SELECT LIST OF WORKS

ORCHESTRAL:

Rhapsody, cello, large orchestra, 2001

Charon-Pluto I, large orchestra (76 players), 2009

Etappe, small orchestra, 2011 (also version for large orchestra, 2012)

CHAMBER MUSIC:

Rhapsody, 2 cellos, double bass, 2000

Suite, bassoon, 2000

Solo for Violin, violin, 2002

Sextet, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, wooden wind chimes, 2003

Solo for Harp, harp, 2003

Trio, violin, cello, piano, 2004

Isis and Maria, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 violins, viola, cello, percussion, 2007

Message, trumpet, 2 violins, cello, piano, 2008

String Quartet, 2010

Integration, flute, violin, viola/cello, piano, 2010

Utopia, clarinet, 2012

Utopia, harp, 2012

CHORAL:

Adid, 4 female voices, 2009

VOCAL:

The Book of Going Forth by Day (concert opera in 1 act, libretto by the composer, after spell 99 from the Book of the Dead), mezzo-soprano, tenor–speaker, bass–speaker, actor–speaker, large orchestra, fixed media, 2006

For the sake of Allah! I deserve nothing less than glory, 4 speakers, ensemble of instruments from the Middle East, ensemble of Western instruments, 2009

PIANO:

Suite, 2000

Wassertropfen, 2003

Solo for Piano, 2010

ELECTROACOUSTIC:

Atmosphere No. 1, fixed media (2 tracks), 2005

Atmosphere No. 2, fixed media (2 tracks), 2005

Steps, fixed media (4 tracks), 2008

Unpacking, fixed media (4 tracks), 2008