Mata Kourti (Athens, Greece, 1984) is a musician, composer, singer, performer. She studied Archaeology and History of Art at the University of Athens and at the University of Poitiers, France, Theatre at Diomides Photiadis Theatre School of Athens and Composition for Cinema, Theatre and the Performing Arts at the Musical Department at the University of Corfu.
She has participated in a variety of seminars, highlights of which could be seen in; contemporary singing, world music styles "labyrinthos" Music Lab, western and traditional music at the Athens Conservatory; medieval music, music cultures and ethnomusicology, jazz improvisation, percussions and body percussion at École de Musique de Poitiers, dance and theatre; the International School of Mime “Marcel Marceau” in Paris.
She has participated, singing and performing, in various music and theatre projects, in great institutions, all over the world (such as World Music Festival of Athens, Sines Festival Portugal, Festival of Epidaurus, Yakinthia Festival/Crete).
She composes music for theatre, cinema and radio and also teaches music education to theatrical groups, vocal ensembles, community musicians, in various countries and to children of all ages, connecting voice with body movement and holistic sound (University of Crete world music ensemble, Τakis Foundation, S.Niarchos Foundation, Athens Megaron Music Hall, Sines Festival, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Forest School, Greece).
Inspired by music colours, voyage, play, with multiple artistic collaborations with artists of different fields, she has created The Vocal Project on the Road (vocal music seminars), Navigatio (music and world tales project), One Place-One Song (music cultures singing performances), Let the Music Start Again (children’s audiobook).
She performs and sings original music and songs. A music universe with the intention and flow of simplicity, authenticity, respect, generosity, communication is where she feels ‘home’.
"what if what is here, has come again....what if what is to come, again, I remember...everything, always, to make new".
This is what the wind whispered to me, I listened and the game began. I took a deep breath, gratitude, closed my eyes, trust, opened them, play. With music and colours, with singing voices, with water and jasmines, with kites and wet soil, with the myths of people and silences, with pencil-dancers, in journeys, in rhythms and meetings, on holi-days or festivals and in quiet blue corners. I open my eyes again and I will see stories and adventures-smells, alleys-steps and crossroads-pirates, passersby and fellow trav-elers, treasures of the heart, curtains-pebbles, arches-coloured stones, a little big and a little small, crazy guitars and fish-athletes, times, wizards, sages, silver rivers, worthy, swift, strange and nice, maybe fires, trees-hugs, wings happy and scared, stars that stand and thunder, shoes difficult and castles in circles-high, flying glades and wishes. As I say.
The eyes open, close, open and the game, always there, here and now a moment, flows, passes, smiles, takes care of me as if it discovers me, let it teach me, respectfully tunes me in and paves the way for me to love (you).
Αre we playing?