Catriona McKay is a diverse musician who pushes one of Scotland’s traditional instruments - the Scottish harp, to its limits. Through her composition and performing worldwide she is widely recognised for her unique style, inventiveness and daring rhythmic use of the Scottish harp.
Catriona has a duo with fiddler Chris Stout. They explore sounds that connect and challenge through a dynamic and adventurous dialogue of their native Scottish music. It is this special long standing musical partnership that forms an invaluable dimension to their creative output. Their highly acclaimed 2010 self-penned cd ‘White Nights’ was orchestrated by them for performances in 2011 with Nova Scotia Symphony.
“extremely powerful” (Living Tradition)
“virtuosic and physically engaging...” ***** Glasgow Herald
“glittering harp work...exceptional bow control” The STRAD
“Unimpeachable” Irish Times
Catriona is a vital member of Fiddlers' Bid (Scots Trad Music Awards Album of the Year 2010) and a diverse musician whose other works include duos with Swedish nychelharper Olov Johansson and Strange Rainbow – a laptop & harp experimental music duo with Alistair MacDonald who features on her solo album Starfish, for which she won instrumentalist of the year at Scottish Trad Awards 2007.
Her music, while based in Scottish Folk tradition, is yet contemporary and above all adventurous and exciting.
“You’ll wonder how two hands can produce such lush, complex and original sounds and rhythmic patterns, all served up with astonishing clarity. “ Irish Philadelphia .com