Demetrios Katis

Demetrios Katis
Demetrios Katis
	Demetrios at the Hollywood Music Awards 2008
Background information
Born	December 29, 1969 (age 54); Athens, Greece
Genres	heavy metal; progressive rock; symphonic rock; contemporary classical music; symphonic music;
Occupations	Composer; Journalist; Songwriter; Producer;
Instrument(s)	Guitar,Keyboards,Synthesizers
Years active	1987-present
Member of	Exoristoi
Website	https://www.facebook.com/EPICSCORES

Demetrios Katis (Greek: Δημήτριος Κατής) is a Greek composer, guitarist, journalist and producer. He is the founding member of the greek metal band "Exoristoi" (Greek: Εξόριστοι) formed in 1989. Demetrios (also known as Dimitrios) is a multi award winning composer of symphonic music and one of the most awarded greek composers internationally.

Early Years

Katis was born in Athens, Greece, as first son to Kostas Katis and Panagiota Zografou. He was 10 when he started having guitar lessons at the Greek National Conservatoire and at the age of 18 he recorded his debut album "Dorieis-Epistrofi Stin Gi" (Greek: Δωριείς: Επιστροφή στη Γη), an orcherstral symphonic rock album released by Polydor. In 1989, he formed his band "Exoristoi" and a few months later their first album was released by the EMI Records.

Exoristoi

Exoristoi's style is a combination of hard rock and progressive metal. The band achieved recognition after the release of their first album which went platinum, including their biggest hit song "Making a Wish"(Greek: Κάνω μια ευχή). To this day they have released 6 albums. In 1994, the band was invited to perform at the Gitarijada festival in Serbia during the war as the representatives of the Greek metal scene. Exoristoi ^[1]are among the first bands that established the term "Epic Metal" in the metal industry. Exoristoi is the first greek metal band in the music history that officially appeared on stage live in Baku in 2018.

Television and Radio

In 1990, Demetrios Katis started hosting every Saturday the television show "Metal Mania" on ERT1, which left a mark in greek television history as the first music show dedicated to rock and metal music. The show run for 3 seasons and was produced by Demetrios himself. At around the same time, Katis was also on the weekly show "Star Club" of ERT2, presenting the news of rock and metal music.

300 Spartans

In 2010, he formed the symphonic rock opera "300 Spartans" with which he performed his most important compositions. The performances were comprised by sets and costumes, while the choreographies were an essential part of the show. With this band, he toured Greece and the USA, promoting the ancient Greek culture.

Journalism

While working on his music, Demetrios also worked as a journalist. From 1988 to 2002, he maintained a column in the newspaper "Apogeumatini"(Greek: Απογευματινή) titled "Hellenic Worldliness" where he wrote about the primordial journeys of the Greeks throughout the continents and their relations with the people they encountered, as well as how they were influenced by Greek culture. From 2001 to 2011, he worked as a radio producer on the radio station "Athens 9.84" hosting the show "The Dance of the Danaans" (which was later renamed as "Melodic Nights"), which conbined rock music with historical narration from prehistory to ancient Greece. Also, from 2003 to 2007 he was a columnist for the magazine "Journalism and Press" published by the journalism foundation of Athanasios Botsis(Greek: Ίδρυμα Προαγωγής Δημοσιογραφίας Αθανασίου Μπότση).

Awards and recognition

In 2007, he is awarded first place in the category "best classical composer" at the “Los Angeles Music Awards". The event took place at the "Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre", in presence of the mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa. In 2007, The National Philharmonic of Ukraine performs and records the musical work of the composer with the title “Arrogance and Fear” which was released in the United States and was first broadcasted in NPR (National Public Radio). Music director was Robert Ian Winstin, conductor of Czech Philharmonic and chairman of the Chicago Municipal Arts Commission. In the spring of 2008, the “Billboard” awards Katis in Branson of Missouri, at the music awards “Billboard World Song Contest”. He wins the second place award in the category "Electronica" with his composition «Gathering of the tribes». In the summer of 2008, the "Educational Institution of Journalists Union of the Athens Daily Newspapers" (Greek:Ένωσις Συντακτών Ημερησίων Εφημερίδων Αθηνών), honored the composer for his international musical work and international accolades, in the "Karatza" hall. Speakers on his work were the poet-journalist Dimitris Iatropoulos, Nobel Prize winner Christos Zerefos and the composer Elias Andriopoulos(Greek:Ηλίας Ανδριόπουλος). In the fall of 2008, he toured across the USA from state to state, writing the music for the ancient tragedy "Bacchus" by Euripides and was awarded from AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) in Philadelphia of Pennsylvania, with the "Hellenism Award", for his music. During the tour, he is honored by the mayor of Portland, Edward Suslovic, with the golden key to the city. In November of 2008, the organisations "Hollywood F.A.M.E Award" and "Los Angeles Music Awards" together honor the composer as "Best International Composer 2008", offering him the "Hollywood Star" in the form of a framed award. The same evening at another event on the "Walk of Fame" at "The Highlands" in the Kodak Theater Block, the composer receives the first prize "Best Classical / Orchestral artist" by the "Hollywood Music Awards" organization. In 2009, in the outdoor area of the Zappeion Megaro, the "Euro-American Council of Women" honored the composer for his work as a whole with the "Artemis Award".In the same year, the Mayor of the city of Athens, Nikitas Kaklamanis honors Demetrios at the City Hall by offering him an honorary plaque as "recognition for the contribution to the promotion of the Greek spirit worldwide". In 2010, again at the Zappeion Megaro, the US Ambassador to Greece, Daniel V. Speckhard, awards Katis' music, for his work "300 Spartans Symphonic Rock Opera" and his musical work, as well as his contribution to culture. That evening, tenor Philippos Modinos and the ambassador's daughter Leah Speckhard, as well as members of the "Lyric Theater", performed two works of the composer under his own direction. At the same evening at the event, the Hellenic Post present 10 collectable stamps with the face of Demetrios Katis, to honor him for his work in music. In 2023 the Greek National Symphonic Orchestra of Contemporary Music performs and records some of Demetrios' musical compositions in tribute of composer's music journey.

Broken Circle

In 2022, Demetrios Katis produced and directed the historic drama Broken Circle. The film is a cinematic rendition of a fictional ancient greek tragedy and has won over 25 awards worldwide.

Honors

"Los Angeles Music Awards" - Best Classical Winner 2007
"Hollywood Music Awards" - Best Classical / Orchestral Winner 2008
Los Angeles Music Awards – International Best Conposer Winner 2008
BILLBOARD World Song Contest Music Awards-Soundtrack / Electronica Winner 2008
BILLBOARD World Song Contest Award-Best Electronica, Excellence in Songwriting 2008
"The Order of AHEPA"-"Award of Hellenism"
"West Coast Songwriters"-Honorable Mention
"John Lennon Music Awards" – Honorable Mention
"100%Songwriting Contest" – Winner France 2008
"Just Plain Folks Music Awards" -Nomination 2006
"Lions Best"-"Young composer Music Award"
"Artemis Music Awards"- Honoree by the Euro-American Women's Council 2009
EMI Platinum Winning Composer 1989

External Links

^ "Encyclopaedia Metallum".

[1] "Encyclopaedia Metallum".

[1]