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This is how it started

When Octava was formed in 1989, the choir was a double quartet. In order to be able to take on works for larger ensembles, the choir borrowed several temporary choristers about every other year and then called itself Octava Grande. From 2000 onwards, Octava expanded its permanent ensemble to nine choristers, and eventually ten, eventually forming a choir of 20 members.

In 2016, conductor Maria Sjöstedt Björs took over the choir and today Octava has grown to a chamber choir with around 30 members. The choir has continued to develop and take on works by both well-known and new composers.

Henry Åkerlund (born in 1940) from Lillkorsträsk in the county of Älvsbyn, Norrbotten was a co-founder of Octava in 1989. The choir was then a double quartet without a conductor, but Henry soon became both conductor and artistic director. He led Octava until 2016.

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