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New York City-based harpists Duo Scorpio to make Nashville debut at Lipscomb University on Saturday, Sept. 30

Lacey Klotz  | 

DuoScorpio_LARGE

Lipscomb University’s School of Music, in partnership with the Nashville Chapter of the American Harp Society, presents Duo Scorpio, a New York City-based harp duo who will be making its Nashville debut on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 7:30-9 p.m. in Lipscomb's Ward Lobby. This show is free and open to the public.

As part of the Faculty & Friends Concert Series, this performance will feature harpists Kathryn Andrews and Kristi Shade who seek to expand the repertoire for two harps by commissioning new works from innovative composers. The duo will perform many of these new works that have been featured on their highly successful debut album Scorpion Tales and latest album Two Bridges, which just released this year. 

Sarah Crocker, adjunct professor of harp, has served as president of the Nashville chapter of the American Harp Society since 2014 and says since joining Lipscomb’s faculty in 2016, she’s known the campus would provide a wonderful opportunity for the Nashville community to experience a world-class performance, as well as an instrument and style of music some people may never have the chance to hear.

“Lipscomb's School of Music is thrilled to partner with the Nashville chapter of the American Harp Society to present internationally-acclaimed harpists Duo Scorpio in concert for the first time in Nashville,” said Crocker. “The audience will be captivated by the harp's capability to produce a seemingly endless array of sounds. An occasion to hear one harpist perform is rare for many people, so the opportunity to hear two world-class harpists performing together is a truly unique experience that should not be missed!”

Crocker says Duo Scorpio is also offering a master class on-campus where select local youth and university-level harpists will each have 10-20 minutes to perform and work with the duo on Sunday, Oct. 1.

“The duo will focus on and provide suggestions for a few aspects of each performance, giving the students valuable information they can apply for future harp study and the audience the experience of how the master’s advice improved the performance,” said Crocker.

In 2011, Duo Scorpio was awarded an American Harp Society Grant which they used for their first commission from composer Robert Paterson. His work, Scorpion Tales, was premiered by Duo Scorpio at the AHS National Conference in New York City on July 2, 2012.

Duo Scorpio went on to record their debut album, Scorpion Tales, in the spring of 2012 with Grammy award-winning engineer and producer, Adam Abeshouse. 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 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 an 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. 

Lipscomb’s School of Music is the artistic hub of all things music at Lipscomb University. A cornerstone of the George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts, the school represents the intersection of robust musical tradition and current innovation. The school also has a great reputation for both contemporary and classical training. Classical music students sharpen their skills in one of the many ensembles at Lipscomb, and contemporary students begin working in Nashville’s professional music scene from day one. The faculty, adjuncts and guest musicians fill an impressive calendar of performances, master classes and studio lessons.

The Nashville Harp Society is an organization of harpists and harp enthusiasts from Middle Tennessee whose mission is to promote opportunities for cultivating the appreciation of harp music in the community and to encourage harp education.

For more information, contact Lipscomb's School of Music at 615.966.5929.