Okeanos' primary focus is to reach out to new audiences, create opportunities for young composers, and initiate pioneering performance events, often collaborating with other art forms.

Having premiered over 100 new works, including commissions from Robin Holloway, Howard Skempton, Judith Weir, Nicola Lefanu and Judith Bingham, they have been at the forefront of many young composers' careers; Lynne Plowman, Dai Fujikura, and Basil Athenasiadis to name a few.

Residencies have included Dartington 2009 in celebration with Japan-Uk150 and Somei Satoh, Vale of Glamorgan Festival and Oxford Brookes Universities. They have given workshops and performances at Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, Bath Spa and Cardiff Universities. Earlier projects include collaborations through SPNM and the Asian Music Circuit with koto soloist Etsuko Takezawa; and also with artist Katharine Dowson and Textural Space exhibition curator Lesley Millar. They participated in 5 Bmic Cutting Edge Series and in 2009 joined [rout] ensemble in an electro-acoustic project which was recorded for CD.

Okeanos has featured on Radio 3's 'Here & Now' and their recordings broadcast on Australian and UK radio.

“Okeanos - a kaleidoscope of vivid colours.” The Wire.

“This concert was superbly conceived... a high point of the City of London Festival.” www.musicalpointers.co.uk

Okeanos is proud to be part of the exciting debut disc series launched by NMC on 7th June 2012. Okeanos features on Dai Fujikura's CD 'Secret Forest' with his complete Okeanos cycle, composed especially for them. Tracks also include the solo clarinet piece Rubi(co)n and the virtuoso cello work Eternal Escape as well as Secret Forest with Art Respirant and Phantom Pulse with the Lucerne Festival Percussion Group. The CD will be released on June 11th. Further details on the discography page.

Okeanos gratefully acknowledges the generous funding from The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama without which this project would not be made possible.


Okeanos Ensemble:
Karina Lucas mezzo-soprano,
Melissa Holding koto,
Robin Thompson, sho
Sally Pryce harp,
Kate Romano, clarinets
Jinny Shaw oboe/oboe d’amore,
Bridget Carey viola