Jad Orphée Chami is an artist-researcher specializing in oral history performance, along with being a composer for film, theatre, and dance. Notably, he received a nomination for the Iris Prize for Best Original Score for the feature film Antigone, which served as Canada's submission for the 92nd Academy Awards. Holding a BFA in music from Concordia University, an MA in Arts, Technologies, and Creation from the Graduate School of Research ArTeC, he is presently a Ph.D. student in the Study and Practice of the Arts at the University of Québec in Montréal.

Raised in Beirut, having lived in Paris, and currently residing on the unceded Indigenous land of Tiohtià:ke – Mooniyang – Montréal, Orphée’s diverse background enriches his artistic perspective. His extensive experience includes scoring over 20 short films and three feature films, showcased at esteemed festivals like the Toronto International Film Festival and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Beyond film, he has contributed compositions for contemporary dance and documentary theatre.

He has secured grants and scholarships from institutions such as the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Montréal, arts interculturels, and Columbia University’s Center for Oral History Research. His research-creation master's thesis, supervised by French playwright David Lescot and awarded with the highest honors, explores the intersection of music and oral history in the context of the disappeared of Lebanon. He is pursuing the development of the work within residencies at the Acts of Listening Lab and Imago Theatre.

Affiliated with the Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling in Montréal and the International Network for Research and Creation Hexagram, Chami disseminates his research through talks, performances, and workshops, including engagements at the Oral History Association Annual Conference, the Emerging Scholars’ Symposium, and the Annual Graduate Interdisciplinary Conference.

Top Credits

Dorchester: In the Midst of the Fray, Eli Jean Tahchi (Nemesis Films)
La promesse de Nadia, Nadia Zouaoui (Les Productions NADIAZ inc.)
Antigone, Sophie Deraspe (ACPAV)