Created by Kattam Laraki-Cote, Montreal, QC
Suggested for Grades K-6 and Families
Music is the best passport to discovering the many cultures of the world!
Kattam – who is part Quebeçois and part Moroccan – first trained in classical music, studying piano, singing and percussion. His keen interest in world music and travel has served as the basis for manifold musical experiences abroad. He studied conga, timbales, and drum in Havana in 2005, djembe and doum doum in Guinea in 2007 with such international masters as Mamady Keïta and Famoudou Konaté, and derbouka in Morroco with Mustapha Antari. He has also studied dhol through The Dhol Foundation since 2012, and Indian tabla with Hindole Majumdar since 2015. He was able to perfect his skills in pop percussions with Paul Picard, Céline Dion’s percussionist.
His first solo performance, Kattam and his Tam-Tams received an International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) Showcase in 2018 and has been successfully presented in performance venues and festivals across North America.
TESTIMONIALS
“The show was FANTASTIC and was seriously the hit of the day. Our staff and the teachers are still talking about it.” ~ Cameron Klepac, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, TX
“If you are looking for a dynamic and engaging assembly program for your venue we would highly recommend Kattam! His exuberance coupled with lively banter and pulsating rhythms has the audience enthralled and continuously engaged. Teachers, audience members, and the Basie Administrative and Executive staff all felt that the production was a winner on all counts.” ~ Yvonne Lamb Scudiery, Count Basie Theatre, NJ
“What an amazing experience offered to mid-coast Maine. Not only was Kattam an excellent performance and show… it was an incredible opportunity for the children of the Riley School to get intimate, accessible, and high quality introduction to the sounds and sights of a very different region. Kattam excelled in capturing their attention – without a trace of the all too common tone of condescension …or any of the cute tricks often used to appeal to children. He was respectful of his audience and captured them as he shared his pure joy and skill in the music. He gave us an essential opportunity to expand and gave them a much broader world view.” ~ Becky Clapp, The Riley School Director, Maine, US
“Kattam is an amazing, dynamic and wonderfully talented performer. His performances engage audiences of all ages and takes them on a high-energy international journey filled with wonderful music and dance. Our audience was completely connected to him and everyone was on their feet, clapping, dancing and singing along. What a great show!” ~ Stephanie Turner, Tilles Center Brookville, NY