Duo Scorpio is a New York City based harp duo on a mission to expand the duo harp repertoire by commissioning new works and exploring existing repertoire. In 2010, harpists Kathryn Andrews and Kristi Shade began searching for music for their newly formed ensemble and realized this particular part of the harp repertoire had yet to be fully explored in a contemporary setting.
Duo Scorpio was awarded the American Harp Society Grant in 2011, which they used to commission composer Robert Paterson. His work, Scorpion Tales, was premiered by Duo Scorpio at the American Harp Society National Conference in New York City on July 2, 2012.
The duo was awarded a Classical Commissioning Grant in 2013 from Chamber Music America, which they used for their commission from composer Nico Muhly. Duo Scorpio was again awarded the American Harp Society Grant in 2013, which they used to commission composer Andy Akiho. Both pieces, Fast Dances (Muhly) and Two Bridges (Akiho), were premiered by Duo Scorpio at the World Harp Congress in Sydney, Australia on July 24, 2014.
Duo Scorpio recorded their first album, Scorpion Tales, in the spring of 2012. It was released on the American Modern Recordings Label on September 4, 2012 and was on the ballot nomination for the 2013 Grammy® awards.
The duo has performed with Florence + the Machine at the Met Gala, for the New York City Chapter of the American Harp Society, for the Mile High Chapter of the American Harp Society in Denver, Colorado, for the San Diego Chapter of the American Harp Society, as part of the chamber music series for the Miami Symphony in Miami, Florida and has been presented by the Virginia Harp Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Coincidentally, Katie and Kristi were both born on November 5, 1982, making them both Scorpios. They met in New York City where they received their Master’s degrees studying with Susan Jolles at the Manhattan School of Music. They have embraced their Zodiac alignment by using their talent and passion to team up and form this unique duo.
Duo Scorpio (Kathryn Andrews and Kristi Shade, harps)
Duo Scorpio (Kathryn Andrews and Kristi Shade, harps)